Newcastle United transfers: The Italian media are already paving the way for Nick Woltemade’s exit from Juventus.
The Italian media is already starting to turn on Nick Woltemade after his supposedly slow start to life at Juventus.
The 24-year-old Germany international joined the Serie A side on loan from Newcastle United on deadline day.
It came a year after Woltemade joined the Magpies from Stuttgart for a club-record £64million fee last season. His career on Tyneside got off to an impressive start, with six goals from his first six shots on target quickly making him a fan favourite.
Juventus' German forward #27 Nick Woltemade looks on ahead of the Italian Serie A football match between Juventus and Atalanta, at the Allianz Stadium, in Turin on September 20, 2026. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP via Getty Images)placeholder image
Juventus' German forward #27 Nick Woltemade looks on ahead of the Italian Serie A football match between Juventus and Atalanta, at the Allianz Stadium, in Turin on September 20, 2026. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
But the forward’s remarkable goalscoring form didn’t last and he quickly struggled to find a role in the side during the second half of the season under Eddie Howe. While his initial success came as a striker, Woltemade was later used in deeper positions and even in midfield before ending the season as a back-up option to William Osula.
The appointment of fellow German Matthias Jaissle as Eddie Howe’s replacement showed little signs of changing Woltemade’s role or fortunes as Newcastle. As such, a decision was made to loan him out to Juventus before reassessing the situation next summer.
But the Italian media are already distancing Juventus from Woltemade, just four games and no league starts into his time at the club. Leading Italian outlet, Gazzetta dello Sport, reported during the international break that Juventus would not pursue a permanent deal for Woltemade.
Juve boss Luciano Spalletti compared the German to a horse in an interview shortly after signing him.
"I have a friesian horse, he seems very similar to me,” Spalletti said. “He is statuesque, he inspires a bit of fear from a physical point of view and then he is very sweet and lets himself be stroked and ridden."
And Woltemade believes he will become a better player under in Italy despite limited minutes so far.
“[Spalletti] is helping me a lot and immediately started working closely with me to improve my game,” he said. “I'm sure I'll become a better player under him.
“I can certainly play as a No.10 behind the striker, moving around him as I did at Stuttgart and as I've already done against Milan with Kolo Muani, but we are interchangeable. I hope to replicate that season at Stuttgart where I scored 17 goals and won the German Cup. I'd love to achieve that here too."
Luciano Spalletti, head coach of Juventus (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)placeholder image
Luciano Spalletti, head coach of Juventus (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images) | Getty Images
NUFC recall for Woltemade?
Gazzetta dello Sport have since described Woltemade as a player ‘under scrutiny’ after a frustrating international break with Germany. The report also speculated that Woltemade could return to Newcastle during the January transfer window.
But the Gazette understands Newcastle do not have a recall option in their loan agreement with Juventus and Woltemade’s deal is a straight full-season loan without a break clause, option or obligation to make the deal permanent.
Newcastle knew they would not be able to recoup the £64million spent on Woltemade in 2025 so have loaned him out for a year so that he is two years into a six-year contract at St James’ Park and his book value would have reduced accordingly.
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