It really could not happen to a more odious set of fans.
When Newcastle became a sports washing project for a murderous regime, their fans celebrated like they had just found their Grandfather’s Nazi gold he buried in the back garden.
It is 5-years since the Newcastle takeover was complete and all they have to show for it is a singular League Cup. By now they would have hoped to have taken over the world – but the issue is when you are reliant on a sugar daddy rather than organic growth, the project can grind to a halt if the owner turns off the tap. And that is what has happened with PIF and Newcastle.
PIF’s most recent investment strategy showed a pivot away from sports washing. LIV golf was the first victim of their change and as predicted Newcastle was not far behind.
Whilst their fans cry online about “PSR” making it unfair that they can not spend the trillions their owners in the bank have, the truth is that PIF have no interest in spending, and at no point since they took over have Newcastle put themselves in a position of self-sufficiency.
This summer they have already lost Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali. Eddie Howe is also out the door and club captain Bruno Guimaraes is now on the verge of signing for Arsenal. Joelinton will probably be off too.
Over the past 4-5 weeks, since Arsenal were linked with Bruno, all we have heard from crying Newcastle fans is how he is “not for sale” and it is just journalists “causing trouble”. Arsenal fans were used to it having lived through West Ham doing the same.
Newcastle journalists lost their minds on social media as they claimed Arsenal were not in for Bruno. One Telegraph journalist will probably need sectioning if the deal goes through. These same “well placed” journalists showed they do not have the “well placed sources” they claim when Howe’s departure blindside them. Ironically, it was Fabrizio Romano and David Ornstein who broke this news first!
So Arsenal will get Bruno for a deal in the region of £75m, and Newcastle fans will immediately change their tune from calling Bruno “best in the league” to “Arsenal overpaid”. Again, the exact same tactic West Ham used for Rice.
In West Ham fans eyes, Declan Rice was the best central midfielder in the world. Until he joined Arsenal. Then he was an overrated midfielder who could not pass and whose only skill was running about.
In the last 12-months, Newcastle fans have told anyone that would listen that Bruno was better than Rice. Better than Rodri. Best midfielder in the league. Overnight they will claim that they have had Arsenal’s pants down, £75m for a 28-year-old (who they will claim is nearly 30).
But age is nothing but a number.
Bruno only started playing regular first team senior football at 21. He has 429 games on his clock. That is just 57 more than Jude Bellingham who is more than 5-years younger. It is also 60 less than Declan Rice who is 2-years younger.
Countless midfielders in history have had begun their peaks at 28.
You have Xabi Alonso who joined Real Madrid at 28. He played 236 games for Madrid before joining Bayern Munich and playing another 117 games before retiring. Luka Modric has played nearly 600 games for club and country since turning 28 and won the Ballon d’OR.
On the other side of Spain, Xabi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets were all playing regularly for Barcelona past 34-years-old.
Man City signed Fernandinho at 28-years-old. He stayed with them for 9 seasons and played nearly 400 games. Then you have Andrea Pirlo who AC Milan dumped at 31. Too old. Legs gone. He spent the next 4-seasons at Juventus making AC Milan regret their decision.
Arsenal are in a position where we do not need to worry about sell on value. We are in the business of winning trophies. Not buying players to sell for profit. And the more trophies we win, the more our revenue will increase.
If Bruno stays at his current level for 4-5 years, then more legal titles will come. And maybe even the Champions League. And the increased commercial revenue from winning those will far dwarf any profit we would have made from buying someone younger, not as good, and selling them on.
And when you are seeing the likes of Elliott Anderson and Sandro Tonali go for £100m+, there would not be much room for profit were we to buy someone younger, who was as good as Bruno.
Arsenal fans should also not be scared of squad depth.
Declan Rice needs 2 months of not playing, whilst Martin Zubimendi was running on fumes last season. Bringing Bruno in makes a fantastic trio of top central midfielders for 2 positions. Throw in Myles Lewis Skelly and that is 4 players for 4 positions, with Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze as the more attacking options.
What happens with Mikel Merino and Ethan Nwaneri is up for debate. But Bruno is better than both so signing him above them is no debate.
Arsenal will get the deal done. Newcastle fans will cry. That will turn into anger and delusion. And I am off to stick a fiver on the getting relegated.
UTA
Keenos