History seems to be repeating itself for Juventus on the attacking front. In the wake of previous offensive disappointments (David, Openda, Kolo Muani), the Turin club faces new disillusionment with Nick Woltemade. Arriving in the final minutes of the summer transfer window from Newcastle, the 24-year-old center forward was seen as a great opportunity for Luciano Spalletti. The Old Lady’s coach then hoped to have found his new scorer, while Woltemade wanted to get rid of the label of the failed 90 million euro bet in England. But the first weeks of competition already provide a fairly dull picture.
Indeed, the German international (14 caps) does not meet the tactical needs of his team. Scorer on just one occasion in his four appearances with the Bianconeri, Woltemade positions himself more in the background as a playmaker. A role that he particularly appreciates, but which does not prove beneficial for the needs of his coach, who already has solutions in this position (Yildiz, McKennie, Alajbegovic, etc.). In addition to the tactical plan, his poor form is seen through his missed opportunities. If his incredible miss with the Nationalmannschaft against Serbia (2-0) went around the world, the former Stuttgart player had already caused a lot of noise after his clumsiness against Sassuolo (defeat, 3-2), mid-September.
Juventus are already studying other names
Loaned by the Magpies without a purchase option, Woltemade no longer seems to have a future in Piedmont. According to La Gazzetta dello Sportthe trend is towards a return to England, after only a few weeks of competition. Especially since the Turin club is already preparing its succession. Still according to the Italian newspaper with pink paper, president Giovanni Carnevali is already studying three new names for the position of 9: Mateo Retegui (Al-Qadsiyah), Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco) and Antonio Raimondo (Frosinone).
These three avenues are not yet at the same level of interest and no advanced negotiations have been mentioned for the moment. But if the leaders of Juventus are already thinking about these names, this does not bode well for Randal Kolo Muani, recruited permanently this summer, and for Nick Woltemade. The German international still has seven months to change Juventus’ minds and show that he can become the player Spalletti and the Turin club hoped for.
