Abdulhafiz TeslimNewcastle United’s ownership have made it clear how they will operate this summer when it comes to transfers, amid suggestions that they have intervened in the Bruno Guimaraes saga.
Newcastle United’s owners, PIF, have not intervened in the Bruno Guimaraes transfer saga despite claims that high-level talks have taken place. The latest information makes it clear that the Saudi-backed ownership has not become directly involved in the situation surrounding the Newcastle captain.
Chronicle Live understands that the club’s Saudi backers have not stepped in, while suggestions of direct talks involving PIF and super agent Kia Joorabchian are understood to be incorrect. The reported claims of involvement from PIF do not reflect the current understanding of the situation.
Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan did hold talks with chief executive David Hopkinson in New York ahead of the World Cup final earlier this month. However, those discussions have not changed the structure in place for handling Newcastle’s transfer business.
Al-Rumayyan has full faith in Hopkinson and sporting director Ross Wilson, who remain solely responsible for transfers and have overseen all recruitment discussions this summer. Responsibility for transfer business continues to rest with the club’s chief executive and sporting director.
That is also how the situation will remain, with PIF keen to allow staff on the ground to manage the club’s day-to-day operations. The aim is to empower the people they have appointed since completing the takeover in 2021 and allow them to carry out their responsibilities without interference.
As frustration grew among Arsenal supporters following reports of “advanced talks”, it was made clear that there are no “parallel streams with PIF” regarding transfers. There is also said to be enormous trust in Hopkinson and Wilson, who were appointed by the Saudi co-owners in 2025.
As reported by Chronicle Live yesterday, Newcastle did not hold any fresh talks with Arsenal despite claims of renewed club-to-club contact. The latest understanding is that no new discussions between the two clubs had taken place.
Should Arsenal submit an official bid, the first point of contact would be between Wilson and Gunners sporting director Andrea Berta. Any formal negotiations would follow that route rather than involving Newcastle’s ownership directly.
Sources at both clubs also confirmed yesterday that no advanced talks had taken place, while Bruno was expected to report back for training on Friday.
Our understanding is that Arsenal are unwilling to meet Newcastle’s £80 million valuation, while the Magpies have already dismissed the reported £70 million figure that emerged last Friday following leaks from London.
Whether Bruno travels to La Manga on the club’s chartered flight or joins the squad after flying directly from South America remains to be seen.
However, Newcastle have not sought reassurances from Bruno and fully expect him to display the same commitment he has shown since joining the club in 2022, when he arrived with the Magpies battling relegation.
Speaking after Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Gateshead, Eddie Howe admitted he was unsure what the future holds for his captain.
He said:
> “Look, I don’t know what’s going to happen with Bruno’s future. That’s for other people to speculate about, and there are conversations that I’m not part of.
> “There is nothing to say Bruno won’t be back training with us. You’ve got to look at it in its own right; Bruno is the captain of our football club.
> “He’s been an unbelievable player and person throughout the time we’ve worked together. I speak on behalf of everyone at the football club when I say we absolutely love him and, of course, everyone wants him to stay.
> “We don’t want to lose our best players. That’s an obvious statement to make. Losing those big two (Gordon and Tonali) is painful for us and difficult.”
Howe’s comments reinforce Newcastle’s current stance: Bruno is still expected to return to training, while the club continue to place complete trust in Hopkinson and Wilson to oversee all transfer business, with no direct intervention from PIF expected.
Abdulhafiz Teslim
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