Nick Woltemade’s first weeks at Juventus have brought more questions than answers, and the missed chance for Germany against Serbia in Munich has sharpened a debate already growing at Continassa. The 1.98-metre forward arrived late in the summer window as a short-term answer to an old Juventus problem, but his early displays have suggested that the profile of striker he offers may not be the one the club most urgently needs.
A difficult international break for Woltemade
With around 30 minutes remaining against Serbia, Woltemade was presented with a straightforward opportunity from close range. The ball reached his left foot with the goal unguarded, yet he sent the finish wide rather than scoring. The miss quickly became a major talking point in Germany, where the search for a convincing centre-forward has continued since Miroslav Klose’s era.
Germany’s new coach, Jürgen Klopp, had been expected to provide a positive environment for Woltemade during the international break. Luciano Spalletti had hoped his Juventus striker would return to Turin with renewed confidence. Instead, the episode in Munich has added pressure around a player still trying to establish himself both for club and country.
It would be premature to make a final assessment after little more than a month in black and white. Even so, Woltemade has not yet produced the performances needed to settle doubts over his immediate place in Juventus’s plans.
A forward between two roles
Juventus turned to Woltemade near the end of a transfer market marked by uncertainty over the club’s attacking objectives. He has been signed to fill a need in time, as much as a need in terms of personnel, with the club having long sought a more conventional striker.
Woltemade himself sees his best position as closer to a “nine-and-a-half” than an out-and-out No. 9. Despite his height, he has also been open about not being especially strong in the air. A missed opportunity at Sassuolo’s ground in Reggio Emilia has done little to challenge that self-assessment.
- Juventus require a forward able to attack the penalty area and occupy central defenders.
- Woltemade has often moved away from the box to combine with those around him.
- That link-up work can be useful, but Spalletti already has several players capable of operating behind a central striker.
- Kenan Yildiz is currently unavailable but is expected to return, while Alajbegovic can play off the No. 9.
- Nico Gonzalez has already been used in that area under Spalletti, and Weston McKennie remains an adaptable option.
The issue, therefore, is not simply whether Woltemade can contribute. It is whether Juventus can rely on him to provide the penalty-box presence required by a side that wants to return to winning major honours.
Juventus already looking towards June
Woltemade joined Juventus from Newcastle on a straight loan running until June. The present expectation is that he will return to England when the agreement ends, with no indication that the temporary arrangement is likely to become a longer stay.
He will still have the remainder of the season to make his case. Yet Juventus are keeping watch on the centre-forward market, aware that a failure to solve the position would weaken the weight of their broader ambitions.
Names under consideration
- Mateo Retegui, now at Al-Qadsiah in the Saudi Pro League and a player known to Spalletti from the Italy national team.
- Folarin Balogun, who is seeking a fresh challenge away from Monaco.
- Antonio Raimondo, Bologna-owned and one of the standout figures in Frosinone’s surprising campaign.
Chief executive and general manager Giovanni Carnevali has these names on his agenda as Juventus prepare for the summer. Woltemade’s loan was always meant to offer a temporary bridge; the next task is to decide who can become the lasting reference point in attack.
