More sour grapes! German legend labels Newcastle United ‘insane’ - will they ever learn?
Nick Woltemade is making blood boil in his homeland following a club-record £69million move to Newcastle United.
Werder Bremen legend Thomas Schaaf believes anyone who thought Nick Woltemade could play in the Premier League “needs to put in a straitjacket” despite his positive Newcastle United start.
Several figures from German football - mainly from Bayern Munich - have slammed the £69million deal. Toon chiefs stumped up a club-record fee to help fill the void left by Alexander Isak.
Earlier in the window, Bayern had a €60million offer turned down for the striker. This has led to animosity towards the Woltemade transfer that has only amplified following his impressive start on Tyneside, with four games from six games.
Werder Bremen legend speaks out
Speaking to Bild, Bremen icon Schaaf - who spent 41 years at Woltemade’s former club as a player and manager - has labelled Newcastle “insane” for stumping up £69million. He went as far as to suggest it was never clear the 23-year-old could cut it in English football.
“The sums that are generally paid today - that is insane,” Schaaf said. “This is completely surreal. Nick can’t be blamed for the fact that this transfer has caused such a stir. He’s a good boy with a bright mind. The speed with which the transfer has now taken place was unforeseeable. Not in Stuttgart and not at Werder.
“It was clear early on that he had what it takes to play in the Bundesliga. But anyone who thought he would move for so much money now needs to be put in a straitjacket.”
‘Transfer fee irrelevant’ - Eddie Howe
Eddie Howe called the transfer fee “irrelevant” when asked about the sour grapes from Germany last week. He told reporters: "It's irrelevant, really. The market forces dictate transfer fees - not necessarily any one club.
"We're very pleased to have Nick with us. I think he's started very strongly in what has been a difficult period for him because he's been thrust straight into action with no training time of note with us.
"He's done really well. We're really pleased to have him with us and the transfer fee is absolutely irrelevant."
‘I feel good’ - Nick Woltemade
Speaking to the BBC after scoring against Nottingham Forest at the weekend, Woltemade opened up about how his new manager has helped him settle at the club. He said: “He (Howe) makes me feel good. I have one-on-one conversations with him every day. They are mostly about topics that have nothing to do with football. Like my move, or how my family is doing.
“It is a great working culture here. When you score as a striker on the pitch the feeling is really good. But also outside (of football), I feel really good. The gaffer is such a good gaffer. I’ve only been here for four weeks but I feel such a good connection.”