Arsenal’s $140m star on Australia, Arteta and the one jersey he’d never give up
London: Bruno Guimarães is a footballer who seems curious and affable.
“Where are you from in Australia?” he asks after our interview ends at Arsenal’s training centre on the northern outskirts of London, near Watford.
Bruno Guimaraes celebrates his goal for Brazil. Getty Images
He’s genuinely interested in Australia. He was there in late September for Brazil’s two friendlies and there’s a big grin when he reminisces while double-checking Australia’s team is called the Socceroos.
“It was two good games, they played much better than us in the first,” before reiterating a point that the Townsville pitch wasn’t good.
“We played better in second game. It was amazing being in Australia, I’ve been in Melbourne before, it was my first time in Brisbane, it’s a good place.
“I enjoyed being there, I hope to bring my family back there and have a good time.”
The word kangaroo suddenly springs to mind as Guimarães admits there wasn’t too much time for sightseeing, apart from a short visit to the zoo.
His time with Brazil came as he was settling into London life, having made the move to Arsenal from Newcastle in August for a reported $140m.
He admits he’s still settling in to the place, team, teammates and methods of his coach, Mikel Arteta.
The big difference for him has been the staff.
“There’s more people here, two or three staff for each player, that’s massive,” he says.
The system is different too, and Arteta is about the small details, two words he repeats when talking about the Premier League winner.
“You have to be careful with what you do on the pitch ... now with how football is, the small details make a big difference. You can see with the set piece, teams score a lot of goals like we did last season, so I think the small details make a big difference,” Guimarães says.
“ ... I’m learning a lot with him, he’s a great manager.”
The midfielder doesn’t shy away from the sort of player he wants to be under Arteta: “I want to create memories here too.”
Bruno Guimaraes of Arsenal celebrates. Getty Images
At Newcastle, he became a captain and lifted the club’s first domestic trophy in 70 years when they won the Carabao Cup.
He was the player fans sang for and his legacy as a Magpie was clear when arch-rivals Sunderland called him a “fat rat” upon his return to the Stadium of Light as a Gunner.
“They know what they are, the fat rat wishes you a nice weekend,” he wrote on Instagram after a 2-0 win.
In an era where managers are sacked for failing to motivate a team, or losing the dressing room, Guimarães has a refreshing take on how he should be inspired.
“I think motivation has to come from the player, I want to be part of this team, I want players to come here and say, ‘I want to do what Bruno has done’, and of course make the fans happy,” he says.
“Every team I’ve been part of, I always try to give my best, I always want to leave my name in the club’s history and here is no different. I want to play my best football, I know how big this club is, so I have to work even harder to put my name in history.”
Part of the Brazilian’s legacy at every club has been the number 39.
Bruno Guimaraes has worn number 39 throughout his career. Getty Images
It’s a number that is “everything for me” he says, retelling the story of his father’s taxi number.
That taxi provided for his family as he grew up in Brazil and has followed him throughout his whole career.
At Athletico Paranaense he was handed the No.39 by the kit man by pure coincidence. From that moment on, it was his forever.
Guimarães’ attachment to his family is no secret.
When asked about the influence of his father on his life and career, he lets out a loud exhale and says “wow”.
“I remember he left me at school in the morning and I’d only see my father early in the day because I had to train, go to school. I played futsal when I was young as well, so sometimes I just saw my mother once in the morning every week,” he remembers.
“But during the weekend, he would always go with me to the game, in his taxi. My father and my mum were everything to me, if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here.”
With a special attachment to family, and home, it’s no secret who Guimarães admires the most as a footballer.
In December last year he posted a picture of his jersey collections with names like Neymar, Virgil, Coutinho and T. Silva all featuring.
But one name stood tall in the middle: Pele. It’s the shirt he will never lose.
“At Newcastle, Alan Shearer gave me Pele’s shirt, it’s my favourite,” he says.
“I will frame it, Pele for me is the king of football.”
Now at 28, Guimarães has the chance to go on and become a legend in his own right, and Arsenal is where he wants that to happen.
“When we won the Carabao Cup with Newcastle it was amazing, even more because it was 70 years since their last trophy,” he says.
“The good thing here was I started my first official game with a trophy, so it was a very good memory. I can’t wait to have more trophies here, compete more, and I’m so excited about the new challenges in my life.
“I think your career goes too short, I’m 28 and want to make memories for life.”
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