A recent interview from Julian Nagelsmann may explain why Nick Woltemade was happy to join Newcastle United, despite a series of summer bids from German giants
Speaking before their shock 2-0 defeat to Slovakia last night, where Woltemade played the full 90 minutes and was generally starved of good service, the Germany boss was quizzed on the striker’s £69m switch to St James’ Park.
Responding to questions around Bayern Munich’s failed bids and his eventual move to Newcastle, Nagelsmann made it clear that regular game time is key to his World Cup hopes:
“I think it’s unfortunate on all sides that everything was played out so publicly.
“Of course, I gave him some advice – not where he should move, I don’t do that – but that players have to play [regularly].
“I didn’t consider a few of the summer transfers to be entirely fortunate. Because then players go from 100% playing time to 15%. That doesn’t do me much good as a national team coach.
“I told Nick he’s welcome to move to Bayern if he wants to. But he should also make it clear to them that with 25% playing time, things would be tight for him for the World Cup.”
Woltemade enjoyed a big breakout campaign with Stuttgart last season, although he was only a regular starter and star man in their team from December last year.
The 23-year-old is still relatively inexperienced at the top level and needs regular minutes to continue his development, racking up just over 100 senior appearances so far following previous spells at Werder Bremen and SV Elversberg (loan).
So, looking at Nagelsmann’s comments and considering next year’s World Cup, it’s perhaps a good thing that he picked a key role under Eddie Howe over a back-up role to Harry Kane at Bayern!
TL;DR: Woltemade preferred to come to somewhere smaller and more quaint, where he could have a normal life without anyone recognising him. He also heard Greggs was amazing and wanted to try it.
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