Arsenal have signed Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United on a long term contract for £75 million.
Guimaraes said he was excited about taking on a new challenge at this stage of his career. The midfielder also made it clear that he had big goals with Arsenal. He wants to win trophies, create special moments and help the club make history.
Guimaraes will continue wearing his special number 39 shirt at Arsenal, a number that has a deep meaning for him. The midfielder explained that the number is linked to his father, who worked as a taxi driver in Brazil for more than 20 years and gave the family everything they needed.
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When Guimaraes got his first chance to join a top Brazilian club, he asked his father the shirt number he should choose. His father told him to pick 39 because that number had helped provide everything for their family.
He said, "I was upset a little bit because I wanted to take the 97. He said, 'No, no, take the 39. The 39 gave you everything.' When I got to Athletico Paranaense, I went to do the medical and when I opened [my bag], the number 39 was in there and I was very scared."
"I went to the kit man and I said, 'Why 39?' He said, 'If you don't want it, you can change it.' I said, 'No, no, no, it's exactly what I want.' At that moment, I called my father and when I told him the history, he started to cry. He said, 'I told you, this number is going to give you luck.' Since then, I've always been the 39."
His arrival has also brought an interesting moment with fellow midfielder Declan Rice. The English midfielder reportedly sent him a message welcoming him to Arsenal and asked him to forget their old battles now that they were teammates.
Speaking about Rice, Guimaraes said he is one of the best in Europe. “Everyone is an amazing player. Every time when I play against [Arsenal] it was very tough. They keep the ball, they defend like one. I think that combination is the way I like to play as well, and of course, joining the winners of the league is always a big opportunity.”
Guimaraes is set to become the 17th Brazilian player to represent Arsenal. He has also revealed admiring former Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva a lot. The young player has spoken with Gilberto in the past and hopes to follow a similar path in the club. He wants to perform well, create his own place in Arsenal's history and become one of their best Brazilian players.
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