Pep Guardiola labels Man City-linked Newcastle midfielder as ‘exceptional’ and ‘complete’ in glowing praise

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has issued glowing praise on Newcastle holding midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, following on from links concerning the player.

The Brazilian midfielder was at the centre of transfer reports earlier this week linking the reigning Premier League champions with an interest in his services ahead of what is expected to be a busy summer for Etihad Stadium officials.

It was reported by one outlet that Manchester City were exploring the prospect of making a move for Guimaraes in the upcoming summer and have a ‘huge interest’ in the player, with Pep Guardiola described as a ‘big fan’ of his versatility and tenacity.

Now, backing up those suggestions, Guardiola himself has been asked for his thoughts on Bruno Guimaraes ahead of the meeting between Manchester City and Newcastle in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday evening.

“An exceptional holding midfielder,” Guardiola said of the 26-year-old. “Aggressive, with the ball has the pause, on set-pieces he’s aggressive. A real, real complete holding midfielder since playing in Lyon.”

Unfortunately for Manchester City and perhaps their hopes of recruiting Guimaraes, Guardiola believes that the midfielder is now part of a club that wants to ‘grow up’ in Newcastle United, and is ‘pretty sure’ the player will be part of the St James’ Park project for years to come.

Guardiola continued, “Now (Bruno Guimaraes) is in a club that wants to grow up, and grow up, and I’m pretty sure he’s part of their project for the next years, definitely.”

The meeting with Eddie Howe and his players is the penultimate clash in a mammoth month for Manchester City and their hopes of securing silverware this season, with a Premier League and Champions League hunt accompanying their FA Cup pursuit.

While Arsenal and Liverpool are the direct challengers for the English top-flight trophy during the business end of the campaign, Real Madrid have been drawn as Manchester City’s next opponents in European competition.

City will travel to the Santiago Bernabeu early next month for the Champions League quarter-final first-leg, while the second-leg will take place at the Etihad Stadium one week later.