LONDON, England — Bruno Guimarães will continue his tradition of wearing the No. 39 shirt at Arsenal, the same number he carried throughout his time at Newcastle United.
The Brazilian midfielder’s choice is deeply personal. The number was inspired by the taxi driven by his father, Dick Gomez, in Rio de Janeiro. The dispatch number of that cab was 039, and the earnings from it supported the family and helped fund Guimarães’ early football journey.
He has previously spoken about the significance of the digits, describing them as “magical” because they “gave me everything in life.” The number also holds special meaning from his early career, when it was assigned to him during a loan spell at Athletico Paranaense.
Guimarães has worn 39 at previous clubs whenever possible, including Lyon and Newcastle, and has even tattooed the number on his body as a permanent tribute. With the shirt available at Arsenal, the new signing will keep the familiar number on his back as he begins the next chapter of his career in north London.
