Juventus’ Premier League loanee leaves No 9 spot still vacant

Under the floodlights of the Juventus Stadium, the roar of the crowd still echoed after a hard‑won victory over Atalanta, just before the Data Fifa break. The win lifted the team’s spirits but also highlighted a lingering problem in attack that the club must solve.

Spalletti steadies team with Atalanta win

Luciano Spalletti’s side broke a spell of instability by beating Atalanta, silencing critics who had questioned his tactics. The triumph came at a crucial moment, offering a brief respite before the international pause.

Woltemade fails to deliver for Juventus

One lingering concern resurfaced during the break: who will fill the No 9 shirt. Nick Woltemade arrived on a season‑long loan from Newcastle, a Premier League club, with the expectation that Germany’s international fixtures could restore his confidence, as Spalletti hoped.

Instead, the 24‑year‑old striker’s form dipped further. In his sole start, a 2‑0 German win over Serbia in the Nations League, he squandered a clear chance inside the six‑yard box and mis‑directed a towering header into the advertising board.

The following week he was relegated to the bench against Greece, featuring for only 27 minutes in a 0‑0 draw and failing to register a single shot. Those muted displays triggered an alarm within Juve’s camp.

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Juventus eye new targets for No 9

According to, the club is already scouting three alternatives for the striker role. Mateo Retegui, a 27‑year‑old former Atalanta and Genoa forward now at Al‑Qadsiah, could return to Italy to revive his national‑team prospects.

Folarin Balogun, the Monaco forward who shone at the last World Cup, missed a late move to Everton and is currently a key figure for Ligue 1 leaders under Filipe Luís. The third name is Antonio Raimondo, a 22‑year‑old on loan from Bologna to Frosinone, who has already netted five goals and provided an assist across Serie A and the Coppa Italia.

All three are listed as potential 2027 signings, with any higher‑priced investment likely dependent on Juventus securing a Champions League berth. The club’s CEO, Giovanni Carnevali, has kept the options open while the loan of Woltemade is set to expire mid‑next year, when he returns to the Magpies.

Juventus doubts Woltemade – Out for the striker?

Woltemade’s brief spell at Juventus comprised four appearances, only one of which was a start, and he failed to score after a penalty against NEC in his Europa League debut. His profile – a 1.98 m forward who prefers to drop deep and link play rather than act as a traditional target man – does not match the classic No 9 prototype the Turin side seeks.