Bruno Guimaraes is already getting a taste of life inside the Arsenal dressing room after revealing the message he received from new teammate Declan Rice.
The Brazil midfielder has completed his £75 million move from Newcastle United to Arsenal, bringing an end to a spell in which he regularly found himself involved in fierce midfield battles against the Gunners.
Now, however, Guimaraes says one of his former rivals has sent him a rather different message.
The pair are now teammates, and Guimaraes appears delighted about the prospect of sharing a midfield with the England international.
Guimaraes and Rice have faced each other in several highly competitive Premier League encounters, with both midfielders known for their intensity and physical approach. Those battles are now a thing of the past.
Speaking about his arrival at Arsenal, Guimaraes revealed that Rice had already reached out to welcome him to North London.
“Very good, very good,” he said.
“[Declan] Rice sent me a message: ‘Come here and please no more fights, now we’re friends.’
“I was happy he messaged me, but the midfield we have here, in my point of view, is one of the best in Europe.
“Everyone is an amazing player, I’m so excited to start chatting and play, and know the players very, very well, but we have an amazing midfield.”
The message underlines the changing relationship between two players who have previously been on opposite sides of some intense Premier League contests.
While Rice’s message provided a light-hearted moment, Guimaraes’ assessment of Arsenal’s midfield was much more serious.
The 28-year-old believes Arteta has assembled a group capable of competing with the best midfield units in European football.
That strength could become particularly important as Arsenal look to compete across domestic and continental competitions.
Guimaraes now joins a midfield group that already contains significant quality and experience, giving manager Mikel Arteta another player capable of influencing games at both ends of the pitch.
The Brazilian’s arrival is therefore not simply about adding another name to the squad. It could change the balance of Arsenal’s midfield.
The £75m transfer represents a major step in Guimaraes’ career. After establishing himself as one of Newcastle’s key players, the midfielder now has the opportunity to compete for major honours with Arsenal.
His comments also suggest that he has quickly embraced the challenge.
Rather than focusing on the battles of the past, Guimaraes is looking forward to building relationships with the players he previously competed against.
For Arsenal supporters, the prospect of Rice and Guimaraes operating in the same midfield is one of the most intriguing aspects of the new season.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
