Bruno Guimarães reflects on Newcastle rise and hints at long-term future

Bruno Guimarães has reflected on Newcastle United's remarkable transformation since his arrival at the club, insisting both he and the Magpies have reached a completely different level over the past four years.

The Brazilian midfielder is currently representing his country at the World Cup in the United States, but his latest comments will be warmly received by Newcastle supporters after he spoke proudly about his role in the club's rise.

Speaking to Globo Esporte, Guimarães described the period since the 2022 World Cup as the most transformative spell of his career.

When Guimarães travelled to Qatar in 2022, he was still adapting to life in the Premier League following his move from Lyon earlier that year.

Today, the midfielder heads into another World Cup as Newcastle captain, one of the club's most influential players and a member of Brazil's leadership group under Carlo Ancelotti.

Looking back on the journey, Guimarães highlighted Newcastle's growth alongside his own development.

"Much has changed in four years. It feels like ten years passed in four, to be honest." He added: "We changed Newcastle's level. I became one of the club's biggest idols."

Those comments underline the impact the midfielder has had since arriving at St James' Park. Having followed Newcastle's progress during the Eddie Howe era, few signings have symbolised the club's rise more than Guimarães.

From a side battling near the bottom of the Premier League when he arrived, Newcastle have established themselves among England's leading clubs and regular contenders for European football.

Guimarães also opened up about the frustration he experienced at the 2022 World Cup, admitting the tournament became a major turning point in his career.

The midfielder was disappointed with his own displays, particularly after Brazil's defeat to Cameroon during the group stage.

"I was very frustrated. But I worked and transformed that pain into good things and positive feelings to improve my game. I feel ready to go again."

He believes the lessons learned in Qatar helped him evolve both technically and mentally.

"I improved a lot from one World Cup to another. I evolved in many aspects of my game."

That progress has been reflected in his performances for Newcastle. Guimarães described the recently completed campaign as the most productive attacking season of his career.

"I think this was my very good season. It was my season with the most goals and a lot of goal involvements in the Premier League."

Another major factor behind Guimarães' confidence has been the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti as Brazil manager.

The Newcastle captain revealed the Italian immediately made him feel valued within the national team setup.

"Since the first call-up and the first conversation we had, I already felt I would be important to him." "He made me one of the leaders of the group."

Guimarães believes his importance to Brazil is now significantly greater than it was four years ago, mirroring the growth he has experienced at club level.

The midfielder also welcomed recent comments from Casemiro, who suggested he could captain Brazil in the future.

"When I first arrived with Brazil in 2020, I said I wanted a career like Casemiro's. So to hear that from him was a huge satisfaction."

Perhaps most notably for Newcastle supporters, Guimarães' interview carried the tone of a player fully invested in the club's future.

Rather than discussing potential transfers or ambitions elsewhere, the midfielder repeatedly highlighted his connection to Newcastle and the role he has played in the team's development.

While he stopped short of making any explicit commitment, his references to changing Newcastle's level, becoming one of the club's biggest idols and embracing the captaincy all point towards a player who remains deeply committed to the project at St James' Park.

However, football can change quickly and long-term futures are never guaranteed. For now, though, Newcastle fans will see little in Guimarães' latest remarks to suggest an exit is on the horizon.

Guimarães will continue to play a key role for Brazil as they pursue World Cup success under Ancelotti following their opening draw against Morocco.

Once the tournament concludes, attention will return to Newcastle and another important campaign, with the club expected to build around their captain as they aim to strengthen their position among the Premier League's elite.

Do Bruno Guimarães' comments show he is becoming a Newcastle United legend in the making?