Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimarães has paid an emotional tribute to departing manager Eddie Howe, hailing him as “the king of the club” following the coach’s shock resignation on Thursday.

The Brazilian midfielder took to Instagram shortly after Howe’s departure was announced, posting a photo of his former boss alongside a heartfelt message that captured the sentiments of many Newcastle fans.

“This club’s king!!” Guimarães wrote. “Thank you for everything you have done for us. I really enjoyed our time together. Thank you for making me a better player and a better person! Words cannot express how much I enjoyed being your player. All the best in the future, boss.”

The tribute came as a surprise to many, given the timing—Howe’s exit coincides with intense transfer speculation surrounding Guimarães himself, who has been heavily linked with a move to Premier League champions Arsenal this summer.

In a separate interview, Guimarães admitted he was “very, very surprised” by Howe’s decision to step down after five years at St James’ Park. The midfielder had previously described Howe as “one of the best coaches in Europe”, making the departure all the more difficult to process.

Howe’s resignation is understood to have been driven by frustration over the club’s transfer strategy and the anticipated loss of key players. According to multiple reports, Howe “believed” that Newcastle would be forced to sell Guimarães to Arsenal, despite the midfielder’s importance to the squad. The Magpies have already lost Anthony Gordon to Barcelona and Sandro Tonali to Tottenham earlier this summer, leaving Howe with a significantly weakened squad ahead of the new season.

Guimarães, 28, has been Newcastle’s captain and talisman since joining from Lyon in 2022, scoring 31 goals in 195 appearances. Arsenal have reportedly submitted a £70 million bid for the Brazilian, with Newcastle holding out for £80-85 million. The Gunners are increasingly confident of securing his signature, and Guimarães is said to be eager to make the move to the Emirates.

The midfielder’s emotional tribute to Howe, however, underscores the deep bond he formed with the manager during their time together. Whether that connection will influence his decision to stay or leave remains to be seen, but for now, Guimarães has made it clear where his loyalty lies—at least in his words.

Newcastle have yet to appoint a permanent successor to Howe, with Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli’s Matthias Jaissle emerging as the leading candidate. The club faces a rebuilding task of significant proportions, with Guimarães’s future the most pressing issue on the agenda.