Joelinton has described the shock of losing his best friend and Eddie Howe within days of each other this summer, after Bruno Guimarães completed a £75 million move to Arsenal in August, shortly after Howe's own departure as head coach.
The two Brazilians were inseparable at Newcastle's Benton training base, served as each other's best man, and helped deliver the club's first trophy since the 2021 takeover together.
Speaking to Chronicle Live, Joelinton said the club has learned to move on quickly from departures of that kind: "It's never time to cry, because football always moves forward.
"Like I say about Eddie, Bruno is the same, a great person for Newcastle United who has left the club.
"What Bruno did here was amazing, and we have to remember that. He always gave his best for the club and respected everybody. We have to remember him as a great player - because he was. We wish him all the best, but football doesn't stop, players come and go, coaches come and go, the only thing that is permanent is the fans and the club."
The friendship has not ended with the transfer. Guimarães still visits the Joelinton household discreetly during breaks, as he did when Arsenal played at Sunderland recently, but his first competitive return to St James' Park will be a different matter entirely: Arsenal visit Tyneside on Saturday 21 November for a 5:30pm kick-off. Joelinton, only half-joking, suggested his friend should expect a hostile reception.
"As a footballer, you have to make decisions, and he made his. Of course, he was sad to leave because he loved the city and club; he also had a great relationship with the fans, so it was not that easy for him. Now it's done, we wish him all the best. Just when he comes here now, he can't have a good time! We will be waiting for him here and give him some things! But he did great for him, and I wish him the best because he is one of my best friends in life."
Joelinton credited Howe, who left to take charge of AC Milan, with reviving his career after he arrived from Hoffenheim as a struggling £40 million striker and was reinvented as a Brazil international in midfield.
"He has trusted me from day one, and I will always be grateful for everything he did for me. I always tried to give that back to him when I stepped on the pitch. He improved my game a lot and gave me the chance to play midfield. He always trusted me, so I just have good things to say about Eddie, and I wish him all the best for the future. I think everyone will remember him as a great head coach who had a great time here."
Joelinton, now Newcastle's vice-captain, said he is looking forward to working under new head coach Matthias Jaissle.
Eight of Newcastle's summer signings arrived aged under 24, and Joelinton, targeting a return from a muscle injury against Coventry City on 12 October, said his role now extends to guiding the club's younger players through difficult moments, such as last week's heavy defeat at Leeds United before the 2-1 win over Hull City: "It is never time to cry even after a bad result like Leeds.
"You have to move on at this club and the boys worked hard after Leeds because it was a tough night. I am sure the boys will always bounce back from a bad result with fight and hope we can have a great season."