A sum that cannot be refused: Lyon has agreed to see one of its best players, Brazilian international midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, leave for Newcastle in return for a check for 50 million euros which will allow him to anticipate the following.
The 50.1 million euros in transfer compensation includes 8 million euros in bonuses, linked in particular to the maintenance in the Premier League of the Magpies, current eighteenth. The agreement also mentions a 20% incentive on any capital gain on resale. Of this sum, OL will have to donate 20% to Athletico Paranaense, the 24-year-old’s former Brazilian club. But the operation remains profitable to the Lyonnais, who recruited him for 20 million euros in January 2020.
Courted at the time by Atletico de Madrid, Guimaraes had chosen Lyon thanks to the intervention of his compatriot Juninho, the sports director who has since left the Rhone club (in December). In seventy-one games in an OL jersey (3 goals), the native of Rio de Janeiro has established himself as one of the best midfielders in Ligue 1. His performances allowed him to know his first selection with the Brazil, in November 2020.
“A very exciting player”
Between Saône and Rhône, “I grew up as an athlete and as a human being. I’m happy to know that my departure will help the club in one way or another. That’s always been my thought.”reacted the player, on his Instagram account. “He’s a very exciting player. He was one of our first targets, so I’m very happy to see him join us.”said Newcastle manager Eddie Howe.
The Lyonnais, currently eleventh in Ligue 1, would still need him to raise the bar after a complicated first part of the season, and qualify for the next Champions League, their objective. But the opportunity was too good to sell it, in a difficult financial context for the club which posted a historic loss of 107 million euros in the 2020-2021 financial year, between the television rights and Covid-19 crises. .