Kicker Editorial | Nick Woltemade has “lost touch with reality.” | OneFootball

icker Magazine’s Thiemo Müller has offered up an interesting editorial on the Nick Woltemade transfer saga. Among other things, the veteran German footballing journalist references the effect that Bayern’s sudden swoop had on Woltemade’s play in the UEFA U21 European Championship Final and the total incredulity of the war-of-words in the press.

All of the current commotion certainly isn’t what most Germans hoped for when it came to the future of Germany’s most celebrated young footballing prospect. Müller goes so far as to suggest that the 23-year-old remained far too young to handle this sort of situation. Rumors that Woltemade is pushing Stuttgart with unreasonable demands in contract extension negotiations does not sit well with Müller.

Müller reports that Woltemade presses Stuttgart to double his salary based on strong performances in the latter half of one single season. A long-term Stuttgart deal or even an exit clause may be reasonable in light of current events, as is his desire to move to Germany’s bigger clubs. Müller nevertheless chastises Woltemade for letting all the hype influence his behavior.

“The mechanisms of the business are well known for being ruthless,” Müller writes. “For a young man like Woltemade, it’s all perhaps a bit too much. In the worst case scenario, this could even become a millstone around his neck. If the transfer falls through, then Woltemade would probably have to continue playing for VfB, whose fans and officials he has certainly offended with his recent behavior.

“The fact that VfB has so far refused to respond to Woltemade’s demands or those of FC Bayern is only fair,” Müller continues. “If Woltemade really does feel that this is a ‘lack of appreciation’ on the part of his current club, then he has simply lost touch with reality.

“This is nothing more than the usual clumsy negotiating tactics in the industry,” Müller concludes. “Woltemade should now be realizing how far he has allowed himself to be maneuvered into the role of a speculative object, largely through his own fault. He is not the ‘super intelligent’ [person Bayern board-member-for-sport Max Eberl recently referred to him as].”

GGFN | Peter Weis