Nick Woltemade’s first Nick Woltemade Juventus goal arrived in style: a penalty in the 35th minute as Juventus hammered NEC Nijmegen 5-0 in the Europa League, and his old club and former teammates were watching closely.
The Newcastle United loanee opened his account for the Italian side on Thursday, converting from 12 yards to make it three in a rout that featured five different goalscorers. Nico Gonzalez got the ball rolling, Kerim Alajbegovic added the second, then Woltemade stepped up from the spot. Zeki Celik and Randal Kolo Muani rounded off the scoring to complete the demolition job.
For the 24-year-old, it was exactly the kind of start he needed.
Bruno Guimaraes and Newcastle react to Nick Woltemade Juventus goal
Woltemade took to social media shortly after the final whistle. ‘European nights. Happy about my first goal for @juventus,’ he posted. The response from those who know him best was swift. Newcastle United themselves replied with a single word: ‘Top.’ Bruno Guimaraes followed up with three love hearts.
It is a small but telling show of unity from St James’ Park. Newcastle clearly have an interest in seeing Woltemade thrive in Turin rather than stagnate: a confident, in-form loanee at a top European club is a far more attractive asset than one who loses his way away from home.
That backing will mean something to a player who found the going tough in the Northeast. Replacing Alexander Isak was always going to be a thankless task, and Woltemade found himself drifting further back down the pitch as Eddie Howe looked to fit him into the squad last season. A fresh start under Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti, in a different league and a different system, gives him the room to rebuild.
Jaissle made his feelings clear before the move
Nicolas Jaissle, who worked with Woltemade at Newcastle, was candid about how the loan came together and what he expects from it. ‘I really appreciate Nick as a player for his quality on the pitch but, also, I appreciate him as a human being and his quality off the pitch,’ Jaissle said. ‘We always had good conversations, really honest conversations. He desired to take another challenge in a top league as well with a top club.’
Jaissle made clear this is not a write-off. ‘We will monitor him and look and see him quite closely. I’m really curious how he’s doing and I’m really optimistic he will shine there. He will score a lot of goals there, for sure. He’s still our player so we will stay in close contact.’
That level of confidence from his parent club now has at least one data point to back it up. Woltemade took two league starts to get off the mark before the Europa League provided him his first opportunity to score, and he took it cleanly from the spot.
What comes next for Woltemade and Newcastle
The Nick Woltemade Juventus goal was the highlight of a debut European night in Italy, but the real test will come in Serie A. Juventus face Atalanta on Sunday, and that match represents Woltemade’s next chance to open his league account before the international break.
Back in the Northeast, Newcastle need a result of their own. The Magpies were well beaten 4-1 by Leeds United on Monday and face unbeaten Premier League newcomers Hull City at home on Saturday at 3pm. A response is required.
Meanwhile, £51.4m summer signing Matias Fernandez-Pardo will be hoping to make an immediate impression during his debut season with the club, giving Newcastle options as they look to push back up the table.
For Woltemade, the priority is straightforward: keep scoring in Italy and make himself impossible to ignore, whether that means returning to Newcastle as a first-choice option or attracting interest elsewhere. Thursday’s penalty was a start. Atalanta on Sunday is the next one.