Former Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce has refused to take any credit for signing Joelinton.
Steve Bruce became the Toon boss in 2019, replacing Rafa Benitez during a difficult period on Tyneside. Shortly after his arrival, the club broke their transfer record and signed Joelinton for £40million.
He arrived from Hoffenheim and was given the number nine shirt, which had belonged to Salomon Rondon during his loan spell. But now Joelinton was the Magpies’ main man up front, and he was tasked with scoring the goals needed to keep Newcastle in the Premier League.
The Magpies did survive, but it had nothing to do with Joelinton’s efforts in front of goal. The Brazilian was really poor as a striker, and looked like an absolute disaster of a signing.
That is no longer the case, with the 27-year-old one of Eddie Howe‘s most important players. Joelinton is no longer a striker, and has transitioned into a centre midfielder. It has transformed his Toon career, and Bruce has admitted that he has done so well since finding this new role.
Steve Bruce shares ‘honest’ truth about Newcastle signing Joelinton
Bruce appeared on TalkSPORT on Tuesday morning, and was asked about signing Joelinton during his time as Newcastle United manager.
“I have to be brutally honest about Joelinton,” he said.
“Before I’d signed for Newcastle, Joelinton was already done. Steve Nickson and Lee Charnley had already done the deal. I’d love to put my name to Joe.
“The only thing I would say is he was coming in as Newcastle’s number nine. I’m going to be brutally honest, I never saw him as a central midfielder, but for Hoffenheim he always played on the left. He was never really an iconic centre forward.
“Consequently, a move of his position and he’s done very very well.”
Joelinton is now one of Newcastle’s most important players
Like most people, Bruce could see straight away that Joelinton was not a striker. However, Bruce persisted with him through the middle during that first season. He scored two Premier League goals during his first year on Tyneside, which was pretty embarrassing for a Newcastle number nine.
His struggles led to Callum Wilson arriving the following year, and the England international quickly showed him what a real striker looked like.
At that moment in time, it was difficult to see where Joelinton’s Newcastle career was going. But Eddie Howe has revitalised him, and the Brazil international is now one of the most crucial components of this Toon side.
That is why it is absolutely vital that he signs a contract extension, otherwise the club might have to sell him this summer.
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