Dick Gomez was certainly made to feel welcome in the away end at Carrow Road. Not only were Brazil flags dotted around him in the stand, but those 2,600 Newcastle United fans in attendance repeatedly serenaded his son during the Magpies' 3-0 win against Norwich City.
'Bruno's f------ magic! He wears a magic hat...'
Afternoons like this, and seeing his son score a delightful dink, made those long hours driving a taxi around the streets of Rio de Janeiro worthwhile when the family could only dream of Bruno one day playing in the Premier League. Bruno never forgot what his father did for him and the midfielder wears the No 39 shirt as a tribute to the number of the taxi Gomez drove to support the family.
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Given the miles Gomez has clocked up over the years, a five-hour trek to Norwich from Newcastle was nothing on Saturday - and he had company, too. Travelling with Gomez on that 400-mile round trip was Marcelo 'Rato' Coutinho, who has also relocated to Newcastle to help Bruno settle into his new surroundings.
Coutinho is Bruno's physical therapist and fitness trainer, and has worked exclusively with the 24-year-old since 2020 after helping the midfielder overcome a troublesome knee issue at Lyon. Coutinho may not necessarily be a household name in this country, but the Brazilian is well-known in football circles in his homeland after previously working with a host of internationals, including Romario, Vinicius Junior, Edmundo, Douglas Luiz and Juan.
Coutinho has become such a crucial part of Bruno's daily routine that the specialist's wife, Tati, and their 11-year-old daughter, Maria, have even ended up following him to Lyon and then on to Newcastle. Given how keen Bruno has been to have Coutinho with him, perhaps, few figures are better placed to comment on the lengths an 'incredible boy with a huge heart' will go to.
"Bruno can't wait to start his recovery or train," Coutinho told ChronicleLive. "If the game ends late at night, we still start treatment immediately as soon as he gets home. It may be at dawn, but he doesn't stop taking care of himself and never gives up."
Coutinho's words give you just a little glimpse into Bruno's elite mentality. Was it any wonder that Bruno was not only able to start three Premier League games in six days earlier this month but, also, to have to such a profound influence - even in the closing stages?
You only have to look at Bruno's 82-yard sprint at the death to win the game against Leicester City or the way the Brazil international held off two Crystal Palace players late on three days later to win his side a precious free-kick to see that hard work is paying off at the training ground with Newcastle staff and in his own time with Coutinho.
Coutinho ensures that everything the pair do complements the programmes Bruno has given by Newcastle and the fitness coach is even in 'frequent contact' with the club. Although Coutinho, obviously, cannot go into too much detail, the Brazilian breaks down his responsibilities into three key areas: daily injury prevention work, physical training and performance analysis. Such is the level of detail involved, the aforementioned data is supplied to Bruno and his in-house team straight after games by their own bespoke statistical analysis consultancy.
In Coutinho's own words, 'we are bringing an entire infrastructure to always offer the best tools available so that Bruno can evolve'. However, it is one thing having these resources; it is quite another to actually make the most of them.
"All this is only possible because of Bruno's dedication and effort every day," Coutinho added. "He is highly focused and disciplined - even off the field.
"He is very careful with his food, the psychological side and his quality of sleep, the latter through a ring that he wears that generates data so he can be monitored every day.
"I am proud to know that, with my work, I am contributing to the rise of this great athlete that Bruno is, knowing that he enters the field 100% prepared, pain free and really ready to give his best.
"Our work and dedication make him this professional of excellence who has so many dreams, goals and an incredible willpower to win. He doesn't like to lose. Everything he enters to win - even playing games at home with his family."
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