Brilliant from Nick Woltemade - Watch as £69m striker is quizzed by Newcastle fans
Since his arrival from VFB Stuttgart in the final week of the transfer window, Nick Woltemade has fast become one of the most talked about players not only at Newcastle United, but in the entire Premier League.
A unique striker, he of course already scored on his debut against Wolves last weekend, and fans have been clamouring to see more of him up top for Eddie Howe’s side.
With the opportunity to become the face of the entire Newcastle project at his feet, there’s big pressure on the German international to deliver.
But the next future star on Tyneside looks to be as reserved as ever, with his comments in a new interview hinting that he’s excited for the challenge ahead and knows that he can deliver something no other striker in the league can.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y75YBRcPtKI
On players he’d compare himself to
Regarded in the Bundesliga for his technical ability as well as his goalscoring prowess, Woltemade is a rare breed for a modern striker, affectionately dubbed ‘Woltemessi’ by fans.
But rather than the Argentine maestro, Woltemade has a different player in mind in regards to who he’d compare himself to.
“There are not to many 6’6” strikers or even players in the league, and the most of them are centre backs. I would say a bit of Kane, a bit of Havertz, maybe a bit of Ibrahimovic? I don’t know, it’s hard to say.”
It’s not the first time he’s expressed an appreciation for Havertz, who seems to be a popular figure amongst younger German stars, and we’ll all be hoping that Woltemade can produce numbers even close to Kane and Ibrahimovic’s sooner rather than later.
On first meeting with Eddie Howe
The opportunity to work under Eddie Howe and be his next success story does seem to appeal to certain players, with the boss being a very positive and endearing figure to play under.
Woltemade’s found out exactly that so far in his Toon career, commenting just how welcome he was made to feel by Howe and the team after his monumental arrival from Germany to England.
“He’s such a good guy really. I felt already welcome when I was talking to him. I think he said ‘Hey Big Man” because I said on the video call ‘Hey, don’t be scared I’m really tall.”
Recognising how Howe has elevated stars similar to Woltemade to become world class talent, the striker talked about how it was a key reason for him making the move in the first place.
“Yeah (it’s) why I want to go to Newcastle because I heard that a lot, and the talks with him have been really really good."From the very first moment, I felt like ‘Okay, he can bring me to the next level’. It will be hard, hard work for sure but if we work together I think this could be a really good match.”
On his initiation into the Newcastle squad
Woltemade is already proving to be a popular figure at St James’ Park amongst his new teammates, with Howe commenting after the Wolves game how endearing he has been to the team since his arrival.
And he’s now revealed that he’s completed his ‘initiation’ into the squad, but we may still have to wait some time before the footage of him completing the singing ‘ritual’ that new signings typically have to do.
“Just today I made a speech in front of the team and in front of the staff and I just said ‘I’m really happy to be here’ but I don’t know if I have to sing!”
On admiration for two Liverpool stars
Being both a footballer who grew up in the 2000s, as well as a rising star in German football, you would have expected Woltemade would idolise the likes of Thomas Muller, Miroslav Klose, Bastian Schweinsteiger or Mesut Ozil above everyone else.
Instead, he gives an interesting answer as to not only who his favourite teammate has been so far in his career, but also who his favourite Premier League player of all time is.
“Florian Wirtz: for me, he’s such an amazing player. I like his playing style, like smooth, and he’s so creative. He’s the best player I’ve ever played with.”“For me growing up, like Ronaldo in Man United was amazing, but maybe Steven Gerrard. I always play like him on FIFA and he had an amazing shot, and I like his shot.”
“I like players with full intensity, shooting, and who win duels, and I think he did amazing and I guess it’s hard to find one player.”
On who he thinks toughest Premier League opponent will be
For both Stuttgart and Germany, Woltemade has played against some of the world’s top defenders, picking out Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah in particular as tricky opponents.
But the Premier League is home to arguably the best defenders on the planet, and as much as Woltemade is itching to show what he’s made of, he knows he’s in for some tough battles ahead against tough opposition.
“Van Dijk I think. Ruben Dias of course he was a really good player.”“If you compare (the Premier League) now to the Bundesliga, there are more sprints, more intensity in the duels, and you have do it more often.
"I guess that’s the point, you have to sprint more, you have to win more duels, you always have to be 100% because everyone’s so good. That’s a nice challenge, and I want to do that challenge.”
On embracing the local culture at Newcastle
For many of our current squad stars, one of the things that they’ve most enjoyed about being at Newcastle is receiving the love and support from the locals.
Bruno Guimaraes is perhaps the biggest example, with he and his family being beloved figures anywhere and everywhere they go in the North East.
And despite being here less than a month, Woltemade has already started to feel this love, and has gone out of his way to grow accustomed to being an honorary Geordie.
“I heard yesterday I’m a ‘canny’ guy, I think that’s the right word. Yesterday one of the team managers told me I’m a canny guy.”“Everywhere with the fans, they meet you and they say ‘Howay the lads’.”
Having come from diehard footballing cities and clubs before making his way to Newcastle, Woltemade knows exactly what the sport means to the locals, and it’s a welcome sight to see that he’s already immensely comfortable in his new home.
