‘Enjoyed being our player’ – Bruno Guimaraes breaks silence on Eddie Howe Newcastle exit and drops Arsenal transfer hint

NEWCASTLE star Bruno Guimaraes issued a touching farewell to departing manager Eddie Howe – and suggested he will soon follow him out the door. Howe, 48, stepped down from his role after five successful years that saw him leading the Magpies to Champions League qualification and the Carabao Cup – their first honour in 70 years. Newcastle star Bruno Guimaraes issued a touching farewell to departing manager Eddie Howe Credit: Reuters – Action Images Bruno suggested he will soon follow Howe out the Newcastle door amid Arsenal’s interest Credit: 2026 PA Media The Amersham tactician informed club chiefs he wants to take a break from coaching amid a rough summer that has seen key players Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali going to Barcelona and Tottenham respectively. Reports suggest the ex-Bournemouth boss knew Bruno, 28, would follow them by joining Arsenal and that was the “final straw”. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! The midfielder does indeed appear to be closing in on a move to the Gunners as he was not part of the Newcastle squad that flew out to Spain for their pre-season tour. The North Londoners are set to pay north of £70million for the Brazil international and personal terms will not be an issue. So much so that Bruno is waiting for the Premier League clubs to fully agree on a fee so he can undergo a medical with Arsenal. But as the Prem champions and the Toon iron out terms, the Brazilian took to Instagram to pay tribute to Howe. The ex-Lyon star initially shared a story of the club’s farewell video for the beloved gaffer and added a short statement. It read: “King of this club! Thanks for everything you’ve done for us. Most read in Football CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS “I loved enjoying our time together. Thanks for [making] me a better player and person.” Bruno then added a final sentence that hinted he may also be on his way out of Tyneside as he hinted he will no longer be “our player”. He added: “No words I can say will really say how much I enjoyed being our player. Wish all the very best in your future, gaffer.” Bruno was not done there as he also shared a photo of him and Howe together with a longer and deeper tribute. The Arsenal target insisted he will never forget the manager’s impact in his career and the belief he showed the last four years as he was the one that brought him in and even named him captain. Bruno added: “Ed, how could I ever put into words how grateful I am to you? “First of all, I want to thank you for bringing me to this club. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, for helping me grow not only as a player, but more importantly as a person. “You gave me the honour of being captain – of being your captain. That is something I will never forget and will carry with me for the rest of my life. “Sharing the day-to-day with you and having you as my manager has been a privilege. “I’m truly grateful for every opportunity, for the trust you placed in me, and for every moment we shared together. “Without a doubt, you are one of the best managers I’ve ever had. Please know that my gratitude will always remain, and that you will always have a friend in me. “Thank you for everything, I wish you and your family nothing but happiness, success and all the very best.” Comment now