Lyon simply had to sell Bruno Guimaraes to Newcastle United in the January transfer window as the offer was too good to turn down.
That’s according to journalist Denis Balbir, who says Lyon fans anger is misplaced and the French club ‘did what they had to do’.
Brazilian midfielder Guimaraes was Newcastle’s biggest arrival of the January transfer window, joining in a £37.89m deal from the Ligue 1 side.
His arrival has been greeted with huge optimism at St James Park, with Magpies fans hopeful he can be the midfielder star that Eddie Howe’s side is crying out for.
It’s fair to say that the move has not been as warmly welcomed by Lyon fans, though, who are disappointed to see one of their star players leave in the middle of the season.
They’ve been quick to share their disappointment over the move, even though their club moved quickly to secure replacements in the form of Tanguy Ndombele and Romain Faivre.
Balbir cannot understand where that anger is coming from, though, arguing that Lyon simply couldn’t afford to turn down the money being offered by Newcastle.
“Now, if you sit back and look at what has been done, it is quite logical. Yes, Guimaraes is leaving for one of the Premier League’s bottom teams, but Newcastle is not – or is no longer – a normal team.
“Especially with the arrival of the Saudis and the incredible financial potential of this club. Perhaps in a few months, the Magpies will be playing the leading roles in England…
“OL had no guarantee of getting better offers for Bruno Guimaraes, either in six months or in a year’s time. In the current economic crisis in Ligue 1, Jean-Michel Aulas couldn’t refuse this offer.
“Of course, we had to be ambitious about replacing the Brazilian, but I think that OL did the right thing.
“Yes, Bruno Guimaraes is a Brazilian international but Tanguy Ndombélé and Romain Faivre are not CFA players either. Lyon simply did what needed to be done…”
