Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes has been better than any Magpies supporter could’ve ever imagined following his January move from Lyon. Eddie Howe’s side beat Arsenal to the signature of the 24-year-old – suggesting how highly rated he was from some of the Premier League’s elite.
After being eased into the side by Howe – coming off the bench in his opening five matches – Guimaraes did not take long to settle in. He scored on his full debut for the club in the win at Southampton and added a further four to his name in the final seven matches of the season, dragging Newcastle to the cusp of a top half finish.
But perhaps the recent statistic that has emerged of Guimaraes in a Brazil shirt is the indicator of just how good he really is. In his last four matches for the Seleção, he has registered an assist in each of them, while also netting his first international goal.
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That is despite starting just one of those games, as he came off the bench against Paraguay, Chile and most recently South Korea. His total minutes against those nations totalled just 34, but it did not stop him from registering three assists in that time frame – which averages out at one in just over every 11 minutes.
Each of those encounters have come since his switch to Newcastle, too, which just shows much he is flourishing as a player in the Northeast. It is also even more impressive when you consider he scored just three goals and registered only five assists in his 56 Ligue 1 appearances. Bruno is benefiting Newcastle, and Newcastle is benefiting Bruno.