Didi Hamann: Why Newcastle United is a Better Fit for Nick Woltemade Than Bayern Munich
Nick Woltemade, the 23-year-old striker, is set to debut in the Premier League with his new club, Newcastle United. Tomorrow, at 4 PM, they will host the Wolverhampton Wanderers. Despite his short time on the island, the 6'6" giant might immediately be in the starting lineup. Former Newcastle player Didi Hamann believes this move is better for Woltemade than joining FC Bayern Munich.
Hamann's Perspective: St. James' Park and Woltemade's Development
Hamann, who played for Newcastle in the 1998/99 season, accumulating 31 appearances for the "Magpies," told BILD: "Woltemade will play his home games in one of the best stadiums in England. The atmosphere is extraordinary. You see and hear what football means to the people in Newcastle. When he enters St. James' Park for the first time on Saturday, it will leave an impression on him. It's incredibly loud — a fantastic arena in the middle of the city."
The Sky expert added that Newcastle United's rocky start to the season, with only two points from three games and sitting in 17th place, creates an opportunity for Woltemade. Purchased for a reported 85 million plus 5 million in bonuses from VfB Stuttgart, he is expected to inject fresh energy into the offensive.
Navigating the Price Tag Pressure
Regarding the hefty price tag, Hamann stated: "Woltemade has to deal with that; he can't change it. If he had cost 40 million euros, people would say, 'If he scores six or seven goals, everything is wonderful.' Now he cost 90 million euros. That means he has to score twelve or 14 goals. Of course, it can become a problem if the fans expect too much. After all, Woltemade is still young and has never played in the Champions League. It's all new to him."
England Over Germany: The Right Move for Woltemade's Career
Hamann believes the move to England was the right decision for Woltemade, stating that Newcastle was a better choice than FC Bayern. "For him personally, I would say: Yes! It's good that he's getting out of his comfort zone in Germany. Of course, he could have played two or three years at Bayern and then gone abroad. But he's already 23. And I believe that you have to take the step at exactly this age. At 27, it's almost too late. That's why I welcome this very much."
Hamann predicts: "If Woltemade scores around ten goals, everyone would be pretty satisfied. He has a very good finish. Therefore, I could imagine him scoring around ten goals." He hopes the first one will come as early as Saturday against Wolverhampton.
Woltemade's Perspective on His Transfer Fee
Regarding his transfer fee, Woltemade said, "Even if it wasn't 90, but 75 million in the end, it's of course crazy," when asked how it felt. "We players don't choose our price. So, it doesn't change much for me personally." The former VfB Stuttgart player also noted: "The public naturally looks differently when such a price tag hangs on us players."
The Impact of the Woltemade Transfer on VfB Stuttgart
The transfer of Nick Woltemade to Newcastle United represents a record transfer for VfB Stuttgart. The English club paid a base fee of 85 million euros, with potential bonuses of another 5 million euros. This is the highest sum ever received by the club for a player transfer.
