Alan Shearer has given his verdict on Newcastle United striker Nick Woltemade following the 24-year-old's loan move to Juventus
Nick Woltemade during a Newcastle United game
Nick Woltemade left Newcastle United to join Juventus on loan in the summer transfer window(Image: George Wood/Getty Images)
Alan Shearer has labelled Newcastle United’s decision to sign Nick Woltemade as an “expensive mistake” following the striker’s departure. Woltemade left the Magpies on transfer deadline day to complete a loan move to Juventus, following a disappointing opening 12 months on Tyneside.
Newcastle signed Woltemade from Stuttgart last summer for £69million as one of two replacements for Alexander Isak, with Yoane Wissa also arriving from Brentford.
Woltemade scored just 11 goals during his first season for Newcastle, and found himself on the bench for the opening two Premier League fixtures of the season before his departure to Turin.
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The 24-year-old will spend the season on loan at Juventus, with the agreement not including an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the campaign.
Shearer has praised the attitude and ability that Woltemade has shown since becoming a Newcastle player, but the St James’ Park legend has explained why the transfer has proved to be a ‘mistake’ by the club.
"Woltemade had a wonderful start at Newcastle,” Shearer told Betfair. “I feel there's no doubt there's a player there.
“But I'm not sure there's a player in there suited to the intensity and the pace that the Premier League plays at. I think his style will be more suited to abroad rather than to Premier League football.
“It was a very difficult situation for the board when they bought him. I wouldn't blame one individual; I'd blame the whole circumstances.
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“They were backed into a corner, and they had to act and I guess they acted in desperation when signing Woltemade.
“As I said, he had a good start. I don't think his style of play is suited to the intensity and how quick and how aggressive the Premier League is.
“I don't think there's a bad bone in his body. I think he meant well. I think he had the right attitude. It is just his style, and I would wish him nothing but success at Juventus and I hope he has a really good season and does well in Serie A.
“I have got no animosity or anything but to give him well wishes at Juventus. He was a nice lad. I just don't think his style was suited to Newcastle or in particular the Premier League, but there's no doubt it was an expensive mistake from Newcastle."
Shearer also gave his take on the Magpies' transfer window as a whole, after a summer of upheaval on Tyneside.
"I am very happy with Newcastle’s start to the season and transfer window," he added.
"I've seen enough to convince me that we've got eleven players who want to be at the club and who are really trying and buying into what the manager's trying to do.
"This has been an encouraging start. It's been an encouraging transfer window; they've sold players for really good prices who didn't want to be there.
"It looks as if they've brought players in who are willing to run and fight and scrap. And I'll accept that. I guess I still think it'll be challenging at times this season and I do think we'll finish in around mid-table.
"But with the manager being young, with a lot of the players being young and with the manager trying to get his ideas across, I'll accept that. But I've seen enough to be optimistic."
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