Former Germany captain Lothar Matthäus believes Newcastle United striker Nick Woltemade could benefit from returning to the Bundesliga after struggling to establish himself during his loan spell at Juventus.
The 24-year-old has yet to start a Serie A match since joining the Italian club in September and was again used as a substitute during Sunday's 3-0 home defeat to Lazio.
Matthäus compared Woltemade's situation with that of Niclas Füllkrug, who has rediscovered his goalscoring form at Werder Bremen after difficult spells at West Ham United and AC Milan.
Matthäus questions Woltemade's future at Juventus
Speaking at an event involving his commercial partner Interwetten, Matthäus suggested that Woltemade's struggles abroad could make a return to Germany worth considering.
The former Bayern Munich midfielder drew parallels with Füllkrug, who moved from Germany to England and later Italy before returning to Bremen.
Woltemade joined Newcastle from Stuttgart for a fee reported to be worth around €75million, including bonuses, in the summer of 2025.
He initially made a promising start but subsequently lost his place under Eddie Howe, who also experimented with using him in midfield.
Following Howe's departure, Newcastle appointed Matthias Jaissle, but Woltemade moved to Juventus on loan in September.
Jaissle recently explained that the striker had been informed other players were ahead of him in Newcastle's attacking pecking order, partly because of the team's pressing demands.
The Newcastle manager nevertheless stressed that he continues to rate Woltemade highly.
At Juventus, the Germany international has struggled for regular Serie A opportunities. He came on at half-time against Lazio on Sunday but was unable to prevent a 3-0 defeat.
Füllkrug's Werder Bremen return offers example
Matthäus believes Füllkrug's return to Bremen demonstrates how a player can benefit from prioritising regular football and personal happiness over earnings.
The 33-year-old returned to the Bundesliga on loan from West Ham during the summer after also spending time at AC Milan.
He has since scored six Bundesliga goals for Bremen, having accepted a substantial reduction in his salary.
Matthäus highlighted Füllkrug's improved form and happiness at Bremen, arguing that financial considerations should not always determine a player's career decisions.
However, he acknowledged that a similar move could prove difficult for Woltemade.
The former Germany captain questioned whether a Bundesliga club could afford the striker's transfer fee and wages, suggesting that Woltemade would need to reduce his salary expectations if he wanted to return.
No German club has been confirmed as pursuing the Newcastle forward.
Newcastle retain control over Woltemade's future
Juventus signed Woltemade on a season-long loan running until 30 June 2027.
The agreement reportedly does not include an option to buy, meaning Newcastle retain control over his longer-term future.
Jaissle has also made clear that he still considers Woltemade a Newcastle player despite allowing him to move to Italy.
Any potential Bundesliga return would therefore require an agreement involving the Premier League club.
Key Points
- Matthäus has suggested Woltemade could benefit from returning to Germany after struggling at Juventus.
- The Newcastle striker has yet to start a Serie A match during his loan spell.
- Matthäus compared his situation with Füllkrug's revival at Werder Bremen.
- A Bundesliga move could require Woltemade to reduce his wage demands.
- Juventus' loan agreement reportedly contains no purchase option and expires in June 2027.
What's Next?
Woltemade remains on loan at Juventus until 30 June 2027 and is scheduled to return to Newcastle when that agreement expires.
With no purchase option included in the deal, Newcastle would need to approve any subsequent transfer.
There is currently no confirmed approach from a Bundesliga club.
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