Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton name the Brazilian international they want Eddie Howe to bring to Newcastle

Joelinton of Newcastle United celebrates with teammate Bruno Guimaraes following the team's victory during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Chelsea FC at St. James Park on November 25, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
(Image credit: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Newcastle United’s Brazilian duo Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton were in agreement over which of their countrymen they would ideally like to join them at the club if they had their way.

In an interview with YouTube channel That’s Football, the pair were asked a purely hypothetical question, with both players suggesting that West Ham United’s Lucas Paqueta would fit right into Eddie Howe’s dressing room.

Guimaraes said: “For me, I played with him at Lyon: I would say Lucas Paqueta is one of my best friends, I like him, so I would say him.”

MADRID, SPAIN - 2023/11/11: Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid celebrates a goal during the La Liga 2023/24 match between Real Madrid and Valencia at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Final score; Real Madrid 5:1 Valencia. (Photo by Guillermo Martínez/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Vini for the Toon? Newcastle's Brazilian stars want their compatriot on Tyneside (Image credit: Getty Images)

Joelinton added an additional suggestion that would have Magpies fans in absolute rapture if it were ever to actually happen, saying: “It’s a tough question! Yeah, Paqueta, or Vinicius Jr…he’s a lovely guy as well.”

The Real Madrid winger has endured an injury-hit season so far but looked to be back to his very best as he scored a hat-trick in Sunday’s 4-1 Supercopa final triumph over Barcelona.

The Newcastle pair didn’t hesitate for a moment to name the former players they would love to bring to St James’ Park if they had a time machine, with Guimares immediately answering ‘Pele’ before Joelinton suggested a player who would have been intimately familiar to Sir Bobby Robson: O Fenomeno himself, Ronaldo.

Guimaraes then namechecked Ronaldinho and Kaka as alternatives, just for good measure. We reckon any of the four would do a job, yeah.

Steven Chicken

Steven Chicken has been working as a football writer since 2009, taking in stints with Football365 and the Huddersfield Examiner. Steven still covers Huddersfield Town home and away for his own publication, WeAreTerriers.com. Steven is a two-time nominee for Regional Journalist of the Year at the prestigious British Sports Journalism Awards, making the shortlist in 2020 and 2023.