Bruno Guimaraes: "Arsenal reached out to me but I wanted Newcastle"

"I don't like losing," Guimaraes tells

 ahead of their 

Super Sunday 

clash with Chelsea. "The next two days after a defeat are really hard on me. When I lose, I'm just praying for the next matchday to come around in the hope that we can win and banish those feelings."

The Magpies' transfer record is no stranger to being dejected after a game. From the sidelines, the Brazilian faced the wrath of his domineering father - a taxi driver by trade - during his early years in Sao Paulo. 

His father has reduced the strain on him now that he's the toast of

, especially after his magnificent backheel flick against Southampton on Thursday, but the £40m playmaker still goes over his most recent games with both his parents.

"When I was a kid, it was quite hard back then as my dad would speak to me quite a lot and give me a lot of criticism," he recalls. "It was quite negative, but now I'm professional there's a lot of praise. We do speak a lot but it's a lot more positive - with constructive criticism!"

The self-discipline that the 24-year-old mastered when he was younger has influenced him today. He became proficient in French in just six months at Lyon, dazzling many at the

team. The playmaker comes across as pleasant, balanced, and keen to demonstrate his new following how his English is doing in his interview with the news agency. 

Dodging the help of his translator as soon as the topic of the Newcastle supporters comes up, he says:

"Since I've arrived, it's been incredible and I'm so happy to be here. I'm anxious to play more.

"The fans here are really incredible, I'm very lucky. When I walk down the street, I take pictures with the fans and I've spoken with them a little. It's very important for me to do this."

Those Magpies supporters can be confident that Guimaraes will stay on the back page of the newspaper following his exploits at Southampton, rather than the dreaded front page.

"I don't really like to drink alcohol, I don't really go out," he says, returning to Portuguese. "I like to spend a lot of time with my girlfriend, my parents and my dogs - playing video games too plus catching up with friends.

"I'm really focused on what I want to do, plus I want to be the best I can."

Guimaraes and his new team, who have both started new journeys this season, certainly want to be the greatest. Since the club was taken over by new Saudi-led investors at the end of last year, the Brazilian has been the club's most costly acquisition, but his journey to being Newcastle's matchwinner has taken time. 

Guimaraes made his debut appearance for his new club against Southampton on Thursday night, and it was well worth the wait, with the Brazilian's beautiful backheel goal securing all three points on the south coast. 

It was the type of goal that belongs in the Champions League, which is where Guimaraes hopes to take Newcastle.

"If a club has a project and wants to aspire to the maximum, then it's going to involve winning the Champions League," he says. "It's the biggest club competition in the world and obviously we're keen on winning the

as well.

"The Premier League is fast and intense. Its physicality is similar to France but the Premier League is definitely faster but the best way to learn is by practicing so when I play, I'll be able to learn quickly."

Guimaraes made his club-record move soon before Transfer Deadline Day, when Newcastle was in the relegation zone. At the time, it aroused suspicions that a player who had only 18 months prior played in a

semi-final for Lyon would risk relegation to the Championship during his peak years. 

There were also stronger teams pursuing the 24-year-old than Newcastle. Arsenal was reportedly interested in signing Guimaraes, while Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain were also keeping tabs on him. 

When the 24-year-old announced his transfer to Newcastle, he teased those Arsenal conversations in an arrival video, but he now claims the Magpies' ambition was too enticing to pass up.

"I did speak to some other clubs," he reveals when asked about the Arsenal interest. "But the only concrete offer came in from Newcastle and I really wanted to come here. I've always wanted to play in the Premier League and on top of that it was the start of a new sporting project for the club."

Newcastle are now comfortably ahead of the relegation zone, having won against Southampton on Thursday. They are now closer to the top-half than the relegation spots. Now the buzz is about how high this squad can go. However, during his brief stay on our shores, the Brazilian has learned just one English phrase: game-by-game.

When asked on his views on Magpies boss Howe, he ushers in English:

"I like him, he's very smart. He thinks game-by-game. I'm very happy with him and I think I can help the team and the coach."

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