Bayern Munich potentially close to securing Harry Kane's transfer
Football's Rising Star: "Two-Metre Messi"
Miami (dpa) - Footballing legends just can't get enough of Nick Woltemade. Ex-national team player Stefan Effenberg, a 56-year-old Stuttgart admirer, gushes over the young star, envisioning him as a potential successor to Harry Kane at FC Bayern Munich in the future.
"That's a striker that Bayern Munich should have on their radar - definitely. Not now, but when Harry Kane leaves someday," said the former Munich captain at a recent event. This could happen in a year or even after the 31-year-old Englishman's contract ends in 2027.
"Then Nick Woltemade is the kind of player, and also this number nine, that Bayern Munich should think about," said Effenberg, adding, "Otherwise, you're doing something wrong. Whoever performs like he did in the DFB-Pokal final and so on at Stuttgart is already made for high ambitions."
The towering 23-year-old Woltemade has been making waves at the U21 European Championship in Slovakia after a stellar rookie season with Stuttgart. Leading the scoring chart after the group stage with four goals, he'll face Italy in the quarterfinals with the German team this weekend.
Before the tournament, Woltemade made his first two appearances in the national team at the Nations League final tournament. Effenberg called this progress a blessing for the young talent: "That's a fantastic development for the boy." Following a move from Bremen to Stuttgart, he's "played really well" at VfB, commented Effenberg. "Also, his size. He's a proper giant, and yet, he's fit for the basketball court. But he's an excellent footballer."
A Striker like No Other
Effenberg finds Woltemade's playing style difficult to describe: "You can put him up front. He can also drop back and kick with the team. He has a few moves where I say - Wow, with that size, that's extraordinary." The veteran footballer acknowledges Woltemade's unconventional playing style as a number nine: "He's not a typical nine, but a nine that every team needs." Stuttgart, of course, is grateful to have him. The question is no longer: For how long?
Effenberg appreciates Woltemade's (contract until 2028 with VfB) aspiring attitude during the U21 European Championship, even after his debut in the senior national team. "I find that great, this spirit," he said. Woltemade could have taken it easy, exit-staged left, given that it's been a long season. But that's not Woltemade's style. "This is a big tournament. You can win a title there. He's performing there and is a very important factor."
[1] https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Nick_Woltemade[2] https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/nick-woltemade-atletico-madrid-transfer-details-decidedly-real-or-not-the/blt61603d56a503163b[3] https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/nick-woltemade-stuttgart-at-23-he-s-starting-to-live-up-to-his/blt9c5e0058c344ceec
- Stefan Effenberg, a former national team player and Stuttgart admirer, believes that Nick Woltemade, currently making waves in European-leagues with his impressive performances, could be a potential successor to Harry Kane at Premier-League club FC Bayern Munich in the future.
- The towering 23-year-old Woltemade, who plays as a striker, has been lauded for his unique playing style that defies conventional norms, making him an asset to any team.
- Despite his impressive international success and a contract with Stuttgart extending until 2028, Woltemade continues to maintain a humble and ambitious attitude in sports-analysis, a trait that has earned him further respect from experienced footballers like Stefan Effenberg.
