During a conversation a few summers back, when whispers of a £100 million move to Real Madrid for Bruno Guimaraes were in the air, I suggested to Eddie Howe that such a deal would be extraordinary. Howe, however, had a different perspective.

For the Newcastle manager, Guimaraes was beyond valuation. Howe recognized qualities in him that were rare and difficult to quantify, making me somewhat skeptical at the time.

Fast forward to today, and it’s clear Howe’s assessment was spot-on. Guimaraes has proven himself to be invaluable, leading Newcastle to secure their first domestic trophy in 70 years with his sheer determination and leadership.

In his debut season as captain, Newcastle clinched the Carabao Cup and finished fifth in the Premier League, earning a spot in the Champions League. Guimaraes’s consistent presence was crucial; he was the sole player to participate in all 38 league matches, highlighting his reliability. When he’s absent, Newcastle struggles significantly.

To Eddie Howe, the Newcastle boss, Bruno Guimaraes is invaluable. Howe sees in him unique qualities that few players possess

Watching Guimaraes every week makes you appreciate fully his importance to Newcastle. The midfielder ran a league-high 263 miles last season

In four years, Newcastle have won none of the nine Premier League matches in which the midfielder has not featured

Recently, a statistic has caught attention: Newcastle has not won any of the nine Premier League games without Guimaraes in the past four years, a fact that Howe acknowledges with a hint of concern. With him, the team boasts a 53.1 percent win ratio over 145 games, underscoring his impact.

This is why Howe is anxiously monitoring Guimaraes’s recovery from an ankle injury ahead of their Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain. Only a victory guarantees them a top-eight finish. Guimaraes is currently in Paris and will undergo a fitness test on Tuesday evening.

So, what is it that makes Guimaraes so influential? It’s not his speed. He can look slow, at times. Heavy, even. It’s not his superior technique. A futsal upbringing means he often appears to shovel the ball rather than caress it. It’s not his trickery. There is skill, of course, but not a drop of the shoulder, weave between three men sort of wizardry. It’s not aerial prowess, either.

Some of his qualities show up in the numbers. Eight goals this season, invariably when his team needs them most. A league-high 263 miles covered last season. Likewise his 243 duels won. 

But there is no way of capturing what makes Guimaraes truly unique, to borrow Howe’s description of him. Over the years, the head coach and his staff have reached for the same words – spirit, personality, desire, responsibility, magic.

It is the last of those that best encapsulates his power. The fact you cannot bottle what Guimaraes has is what led Howe to question the wisdom of Newcastle ever selling him, at any price. 

It is also why – in an illogical sense – even though there was a release clause of £100m in June of 2024, no club did meet the buyout. Because, until you experience Guimaraes every week, you do not fully appreciate him. Howe is exposed to him every day. Of all his players, and he is fond of the majority, the 28-year-old is perhaps his favourite, not that he would ever admit it.

It was during the Carabao Cup parade in March that the magnetism Guimaraes exerts on the pitch was evident off it. It was as if a congregation of 250,000 were worshipping at his feet

The fact you cannot bottle what Guimaraes has is what led Howe to question the wisdom of Newcastle ever selling him, at any price

It was during the Carabao Cup victory parade in March that the magnetism he exerts on the pitch was evident off it. 

It was as if a congregation of 250,000 were worshipping at his feet as he showcased the trophy to men, women, boys, girls, babies and dogs from an open-top bus through the city centre. He should have worn a clerical collar. 

Then, on the Town Moor stage, he became the master of ceremonies, relegating Ant and Dec to B-listers. It was cold and windy, but Guimaraes made it feel like Rio Carnival. He revealed to the crowd: ’I told my team-mates before the final… “We go out there as players, we come back in as f****** legends!”.’

A legend he is, arguably the club’s greatest captain. In the rich tapestry of Newcastle United, £100m does not get close to his true worth.