Italian press deliver blunt verdict on Woltemade after Juve cameos
Welcome to Serie A, where they don’t hand out cuddles. Nick Woltemade, freshly loaned to Juventus after a choppy spell at Newcastle, has had his first taste of Italian scrutiny — and it’s been served extra strong.
From Toon hope to Turin test
Big money, big expectations: Newcastle forked out £69m for Woltemade in the summer of 2025 and early doors he looked the part — seven goals in his first 13. But the form tailed off, just four more for the rest of the campaign, and with Eddie Howe replaced by Matthias Jaissle this summer the German forward was nudged towards the exit. Deadline day saw Newcastle land Matias Fernandez-Pardo for £51m and Woltemade shipped out to the Old Lady on loan.
First minutes in black and white
He debuted against AC Milan on 9 September, thrown on for the final 14 minutes of a 1-1 draw. Then came Sassuolo away — a wild 3-2 defeat — where he entered on the hour. The numbers tell a tale: SofaScore marked him 6.2/10, with two efforts on goal (neither troubling the keeper), one classed as a big chance spurned. He completed six of seven passes, lost his only aerial duel and surrendered possession three times. It wasn’t a horror show, but it wasn’t the statement cameo he needed either.
Italian media’s sharp tongues
Predictably, the local press didn’t miss. Gazzetta dello Sport painted a picture of a player short on sharpness, pointing to muddled decision-making and plenty of hard running without much craft at the end of it. Tuttosport went in even firmer with a 5/10, suggesting there was presence but precious little end product. Corriere dello Sport (5.5/10) reckoned his introduction unsettled Sassuolo for a spell, but underlined that a late headed miss proved costly on the night.
Kolo Muani under the microscope
It’s not just Woltemade. Randal Kolo Muani, a €50m summer buy, has played every minute of Juve’s four league matches and is still searching for a first goal. That’s 13 games without one now, his last coming for Tottenham against Atletico Madrid back in March. The Allianz crowd let him know about it during the Milan draw, and the pressure is cranking up by the week.
What it means and what’s next
Juventus need a No 9 to plant a flag — yesterday. Woltemade’s frame, movement and touch suggest there’s a player there, but confidence is the currency and right now it’s in short supply. With Kolo Muani firing blanks, the door is ajar for Woltemade to earn a first start when the Old Lady open their Europa League tilt against NEC Nijmegen on Thursday. This could be his reset button: get between the posts, attack the crosses, keep it tidy — and one clean contact can change the conversation.
If you’re tracking form and momentum ahead of Europe’s midweek slate, it’s one to keep an eye on — as are the latest prices on the best betting sites. But forget the chatter: for Woltemade, the next 90 minutes might define his Juventus audition far more than any column inches.
Pundit’s take
He doesn’t need miracles; he needs rhythm. The cameos have shown willing, but the basics — first touch, body shape in the box, conviction in the air — must click. Give him service and he’ll give you a platform. Give him a goal and you might just give Juventus their focal point.
