Fabrizio Ravanelli criticises Nick Woltemade: The €90m puzzle Juventus has not solved yet

Nick Woltemade's first goal for Juventus came from a penalty spot in the 35th minute against NEC Nijmegen. He placed the ball, stepped back, and finished calmly into the corner. It was not a powerful shot, but it was enough to beat the goalkeeper. For a moment, the mood around the German striker changed. Italian media quickly shifted from talking about a struggling signing to writing about a player regaining confidence. That goal, however, did not erase the question Fabrizio Ravanelli had raised days earlier. The former Juventus striker did not deny Woltemade's talent. He argued that Woltemade is a supporting striker, someone who prefers to drop deep and receive the ball, rather than a classic number nine who attacks the near post, wins aerial duels, and scores tap-ins. Ravanelli's point was tactical: Juventus build attacks through wide players reaching the byline and crossing into the box. In that system, a target striker who lives in the penalty area is more useful than a forward who drifts between the lines. The context made the debate more intense. In the summer of 2026, Newcastle United paid around 90 million euros to sign Woltemade from Stuttgart. That fee placed him among the club's most expensive signings. But he barely played in England. Eventually, Juventus took him on loan. Goal.com, citing Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport, reported the story. Coach Luciano Spalletti chose not to avoid the subject. He said Woltemade arrived without his best form and still needs to be built up. That statement turned the narrative from recruitment failure to adaptation period. It also confirmed that fitness and sharpness were real concerns. The direct evidence is thin. Woltemade played about 60 minutes as a substitute in the 3-2 defeat at Sassuolo. He then started in the Europa League against NEC Nijmegen, scored a penalty, and Juventus won 5-0. Two matches from different competitions are too small a sample to judge any player. A penalty goal does not prove Serie A adaptation, and two goalless games would not prove failure. What stands out is the system-fit question. If Juventus rely on crosses from the byline, Woltemade's habit of dropping deep may starve him of chances. Italian defences often defend with low blocks, denying space inside the box and forcing teams to cross. A strong aerial striker benefits from those crosses; Woltemade does not. Ravanelli's critique comes from real knowledge of what scoring in Italy demands. Yet Woltemade has qualities. He reads space well, links play with one-touch passes, and can drag centre-backs out of position. The problem is that Juventus have not decided whether they want a poacher or a connector. The penalty handover by Nicolas Gonzalez was a positive internal signal. It showed teammates actively trying to build the new striker's confidence. Spalletti also protected him publicly. That alignment reduces the risk of a dressing-room split. Ravanelli also praised the club's overall direction, saying Juventus are on the right path but three teams are still above them and it may take two or three years to return to title contention. That is not a demand to discard Woltemade; it is a structural observation. Juventus are rebuilding around Kenan Yildiz and Randal Kolo Muani, and the number nine position remains unresolved. The financial risk is equally important. If Newcastle signed Woltemade on a five-year contract, the fee is amortised at about 18 million euros per year. Sending him on loan soon after arrival creates a gap between book value and on-pitch value. The key unknown is whether the loan includes a purchase option or obligation. If not, Newcastle still carry the downside. That detail has not been disclosed. Media pressure on Woltemade remains high. The same newspapers that called him raw switched to encouragement after one goal. Such reversals show how reactive the coverage is. The real test is Serie A, not one Europa League game. If Woltemade is played in a deeper support role, he may flourish. If he is forced into a classic number nine position, Ravanelli's questions will return. Juventus must define their attacking identity. A team that crosses from wide needs a different striker than a team that builds through central combinations. The easiest response is to blame the player, but the smartest response is to decide what they actually need. Woltemade now has a first goal and a public defence from his coach. The next few Serie A matches will reveal whether he can fit the system or whether the system must change around him.