Ex-Newcastle star Sandro Tonali has given his verdict on Nick Woltemade's loan switch to Juventus
Newcastle United's Italian midfielder #08 Sandro Tonali (L) celebrates scoring his team's first goal with Newcastle United's German striker #27 Nick Woltemade during the UEFA Champions League, league phase - Matchday 2 football match between Royale Union Saint-Gilloise and Newcastle United FC at the RSC Anderlecht Stadium in Brussels on October 1, 2025. (Photo by JOHN THYS / AFP via Getty Images)
Nick Woltemade and Sandro Tonali struck up a friendship at Newcastle(Image: Getty)
Former Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali uttered four words about Nick Woltemade's loan move to Juventus. The Italian said: "Ah, what a classy choice," when the German informed him of his deadline-day move to Turin.
Woltemade joined the Magpies for a club-record £69million in August 2025 from Stuttgart. However, after a promising start he struggled for form last season under ex-manager Eddie Howe and was surplus to requirements for new boss Matthias Jaissle.
At Newcastle, the German striker shared a dressing room with Tonali, who himself departed for Tottenham Hotspur this summer in a £100m deal. Tonali plied his trade in Serie A with Brescia and AC Milan before moving to St James’ Park.
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Speaking via Tuttosport this week following his signing for the Old Lady, Woltemade said: "I have a wonderful relationship with Tonali. I spoke to him a few days before the start of the season about my possible transfer to Juve and he said, 'Ah, what a classy choice'.
"I had many lunches with him and [Malick] Thiaw, who played for Milan, and they always spoke highly of the Italian league, now I can finally talk about it too. Tonali wrote to me to congratulate me on my signing with Juve, but I haven't had the chance to hear from him yet this week."
Nick Woltemade of Juventus reacts during the Serie A match between Juventus and AC Milan at on September 06, 2026 in Turin, Italy.
Nick Woltemade has joined Juventus on loan(Image: 2026 Image Photo Agency/Getty)
The towering forward is yet to score for the Serie A side, having made just one brief substitute appearance against Milan so far. Arriving at Juventus, club icon Gianluigi Buffon compared the striker to Juve legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic, words to Woltemade's ears.
"Being in the same sentence as Ibrahimovic, and especially from Buffon, is incredible," he said. "When you hear players of that level talking about you, it's a great feeling.
"So I really appreciated what he said about me, comparing me to Ibrahimovic, and I hope to be able to say one day that I've managed to replicate what he's done and tick off that goal.
"Buffon is a legend, just the fact that he mentions my name makes me proud." About Zlatan he then added: "Ibrahimovic has always been a role model for me, he was a player I loved watching, for his technique, his skill and his agility, I learned a lot from watching him. He has always been an idol for me.
Sandro Tonali of Italy speaks with the media during press conference at Nagyerdei Stadion on September 07, 2025 in Debrecen, Hungary. (Photo by Claudio Villa - FIGC/FIGC via Getty Images)
Sandro Tonali has had his say on Woltemade's move(Image: )
"I have so many things to learn here, so many things to understand, starting with the language, but I can't wait and I'm very happy to be here. This is the best club in Italy and I really like the lifestyle in this country."
Woltemade was left on the bench for the season-opener against Liverpool after he failed to impress in pre-season. The striker did not want to leave Newcastle at first, preferring to stay and fight for his place.
The forward did not fit into the current playing style at Newcastle, with Jaissle preferring rapid players to hit teams on the break. It was only the day before the deadline that official talks began about Woltemade's departure from the club.