Nagelsmann slams Woltemade transfer saga: “Bad for the player, bad for the clubs”

For weeks, Bayern Munich pursued Nick Woltemade, but all of their offers were rejected by VfB Stuttgart, with much of the back-and-forth between the clubs playing out in the media.

Now, with Stuttgart having made it clear that the transfer will not happen this summer, the situation has left no winners, according to Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann.

“I don’t think this kind of transfer drama leaves a player unaffected. I always find it very unfortunate when all of this is carried out publicly by all sides,” Nagelsmann said at a press conference in Frankfurt on Wednesday.

“It’s bad for the player, bad for the clubs. Nobody wants to lose face, and then it all gets super complicated."

He added, however, that he has found Woltemade to be “completely calm” despite all the speculation.

“I’ve spoken with him twice and asked about his ideas and wishes. I also gave him some guidance – not about where he should move, I don’t do that – but rather that it’s important to me that he plays,” the coach said.

“I told him that he’s welcome to join Bayern Munich – but also that he needs to realize that with only 25 percent playing time, it could be tight for him to make the World Cup squad."

Should Woltemade stay in Stuttgart, it would be “anything but a bad decision,” according to Nagelsmann.

“If he goes to Bayern Munich and plays, that’s good for me too,” the coach added before joking:

“If he goes there and doesn’t play, then he’ll have to return in the winter.”