Weeks after his Deadline Day loan move to Juventus, German striker Nick Woltemade is facing sharp criticism from the Italian media. Woltemade, 24, has made two substitute appearances for the Turin club, and following their recent 3-2 defeat by Sassuolo, Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport singled him out for his performance.
The outlet noted that Woltemade missed two clear-cut chances during the match and wrote, "Woltemade is clearly having major problems integrating himself into the team's dynamic. He tried his best. But in the decisive moments, he lacks clarity in his actions, which is particularly noticeable in these games where every action can be crucial." They added, "Woltemade squanders: The German lacks precision and does everything wrong."
Woltemade and fellow attacker Randal Kolo Muani, who had a difficult loan spell at Tottenham last season, have been under particular fire as two of the club's significant summer signings. Gazzetta dello Sport commented on the pair, stating, "Four games and not a single goal, plus several scenes that quickly circulated as mocking social media clips among rival fans. Clumsy ball control, botched back heel flicks that landed at the feet of the opposition, and – what is particularly troubling – hardly any dangerous scoring opportunities. No, this cannot continue. Juventus' attack is not working."
Corriere dello Sport echoed these sentiments, questioning the impact of new signings who were pursued for months and came at a high cost. The criticism follows an earlier, unusual comparison made by Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti, who likened Woltemade to "a horse that likes to be petted and ridden" after his debut against AC Milan. In that match, Woltemade nearly scored shortly after coming on as a substitute but was unable to keep his shot down. However, he did win a crucial free-kick that led to Juventus's late equalizer.
Spalletti had told Tuttosport, "What type of horse is he? I have a Friesian, he seems very similar to me. 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. He becomes very good also in relations with his teammates. He’s good at holding his own physically, and ever since I met him, he’s been smiling constantly. He’s so happy to be here, and that’s already a big thing."
Juventus currently has seven points from four Serie A games and is set to play NEC Nijmegen in the Europa League on Thursday.