'Doesn't fit' - Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes under pressure as former Newcastle United captain speaks out
Former Newcastle United midfielder Nicky Butt has discussed Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali’s moves to Arsenal and Spurs.
Newcastle United lost the services of two key midfielders when Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes completed respective moves to Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal during the summer transfer window.
After an underwhelming final season as a Magpie, Italy international Tonali joined Spurs in a deal that landed Newcastle an initial £92.5m and that fee could raise as high as £100m if certain add-ons are triggered throughout his time with his new club. Club captain Guimaraes then followed Tonali to North London after joining Premier League champions Arsenal in a move that ended months of speculation over his long-term future at St James Park.
Neither player has really hit their stride with their new clubs with Tonali still waiting for his first win with Spurs and suffering a defeat against Newcastle on his home debut. Guimaraes’ introduction to life with the Gunners has been disrupted by a hamstring injury that has limited him to one substitute appearance in a Premier League win at Aston Villa after he had started the Community Shield win against Manchester City.
Former Newcastle midfielder Nicky Butt has given his thoughts on Tonali and Guimaraes and admitted he believes both players may well struggle to replicate the personal highs they experienced on Tyneside with their new clubs.
Speaking on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast YouTube channel, the former Magpies captain said: “I think he’s (Guimaraes) a very, very good player, so I would say hit - but the reason why I’m not is because I think the team’s focal points have to be around him. I don’t think Arsenal will do that. I think there’s other players in that team to do that. He’ll be a miss.
“[On Tonali] I think he’s a very good player too, I just think the setup of that club at Tottenham is pfft. It’s a totally different club to Newcastle. He was idolised there, and I mean idolised - you wouldn’t be able to go out, go for a drink, go for a coffee or nothing. I don’t think clubs fit certain players, I don’t think Tottenham fits.”
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