FROM £40million flop to Toon icon, Joelinton’s comeback is the football equivalent of The Resurrection.
Putting the fear of God into opponents, the reborn powerhouse midfielder is one name etched onto Eddie Howe’s teamsheet after scooping Newcastle’s player of the year last season.
The Toon Army honour their enforcer with a Brazilian flag at St James’ Park displaying the Christ the Redeemer statue in the middle wearing a Joelinton No 7 shirt.
Yet the Samba star, 25, thought he was done for with the Magpies less than a year ago.
Signed as a £40m striker from Hoffenheim in 2019, you would struggle to find an honest soul on the banks of the Tyne who had not written him off.
Derided on social media, groans filled the stadium whenever the apparent misfit squandered a chance.
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Speaking exclusively to SunSport, he reflects: “I heard what everyone said about me.
“I saw it all on social media. You don’t want to but it’s hard not to.
“At the time I thought it was never going to work for me at Newcastle.
“I thought, ‘have I made the right decision? Would I have been better off staying in Germany?’
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“Loads of things go through your head during difficult times.
“It was hard for my family — my fiancee, kids and parents back in Brazil — as well but we stood and fought together.
“I never let my head go down and now we are here.
“The first two years were bad . . . but bad times pass — I am on a good run now and hopefully there is a lot more to come.”
Joelinton’s miracle transformation began last November when Ciaran Clark was shown an early red card against Norwich at the end of November.
New boss Howe dropped the unconvincing forward into central midfield — and life has not been the same since.
Afterwards, Howe admitted: “I’d be lying if I said I knew he was capable of that.”
His old Hoffenheim boss Julian Nagelsmann described Joelinton as “an animal” and “a machine”, but before that stroke of luck nobody had seen a midfielder in him.
He added: “I didn’t expect to be named player of the season but it happened because of my hard work.
“If you had asked me this time last year, I would never have thought I’d be playing in midfield.
“But I am so happy too — and, who knows, maybe it was my destiny. I’m doing well but I need to continue growing.”
If he means that literally — fuelling himself on a breakfast of scrambled eggs, avocado and almonds — midfielders across England better watch out.
And it is fair to say the 6ft 1in bruiser does not do friendlies.
One 1860 Munich player will not forget in a hurry being snapped in half last month. The Brazilian was sent off for a nasty challenge against Benfica last week.
Joelinton says comparisons with Patrick Vieira are premature — “I hope I can play like him one day” — but while smiley and softly spoken off the pitch, he enjoys a battle as much as the French warrior.
Born in Alianca in north east Brazil, he has a giant scar on his upper left arm from falling off a truck he had jumped on to hitch a ride to a game with pals aged 12.
And Joelinton said: “I love the contact.
“I have to win every challenge, every ball, and I go in with everything. I’m just lucky to have a good body!
“I am big and have big legs so it makes tackling a bit easier.
“But I have to improve my heading. I might be tall and strong but I am not very good at it — everyone asks why I haven’t scored many goals with my head.
“I have to get in the box more, score more goals and give more assists.
“I’m hoping to get at least ten goals this season.
“My five-year-old son Neto is my biggest fan but I’ll come back and he’ll say, ‘Daddy, daddy, why didn’t you score?’ There is a lot of pressure at home!”
As if 2022 was not going well enough, Joelinton got engaged in June to long-term girlfriend Thays back home in Recife.
Listening to that song gives me more energy. When you’re tired but hear it, you’re like, ‘I’ve got to push more’. I want to spend many more years here. I feel like a Geordie now!
Joelinton
And with the World Cup on the horizon, his year could yet end up off the charts.
Capped at Under-17 level, the idea Joelinton could be alongside Neymar and Co gunning for Brazil’s sixth title in Qatar was for the birds . . . until now.
He said: “In my head, if I start the season well with Newcastle then maybe I have a chance. 2022 has been great so far but it’s not finished — I hope to make it even better yet.”
To the tune of Oasis’ ‘She’s Electric’, ‘He’s Brazilian, he only cost £40m, and we think he’s f*****g brilliant, it’s JOE-LIN-TON’ will be sung loud and proud against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Alongside his giant flag in Strawberry Corner, you should not have to look hard to spot one of the custom Hawaiian shirts featuring dozens of headshots of their new hero.
And Joelinton beamed: “I’ve never been to see the statue in Rio before but I am so proud they made that flag for me.
“It is such a nice feeling to play at St James’ Park.
“And listening to that song, it really does give me more energy.
“When you’re a bit tired and have to run but hear it, you’re like, ‘I’ve got to push more’.
“I want to spend many more years here. I feel like a Geordie now!”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
