Key Takeaways:
- On Monday, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge labelled Newcastle “idiots” for signing Nick Woltemade for £69 million
- Bayern Munich had their bids for Woltemade rejected by Stuttgart before switching targets
- Woltemade has scored two goals in his opening five matches for Newcastle, who have only one win from six league games
Transfer Saga: Bayern Miss Out on Woltemade
Bayern Munich had placed Nick Woltemade at the top of their summer transfer wishlist and made several attempts to sign the striker. However, Stuttgart rejected all offers from the Bundesliga champions. Subsequently, Newcastle United moved decisively and secured the German international for a club-record fee of £69 million ($93m).
Following the unfruitful pursuit, Bayern shifted focus and completed the signing of Luis Diaz from Liverpool for €70m. On the final day of the window, the German club also agreed a loan deal with Chelsea for striker Nicolas Jackson.
Stuttgart CEO Alexander Wehrle on Karl-Heinz Rummenigge congratulating them for finding 'idiots' that paid the Woltemade fee: "We're always happy to receive congratulations from Munich" [@BILD] pic.twitter.com/HT6kEnlbmH
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) September 29, 2025
Rummenigge’s “Idiot” Dig Sparks Stuttgart Response
During an appearance on Blickpunkt Sport, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, a supervisory board member at Bayern Munich, discussed the club’s failed attempt to sign Woltemade. Rummenigge, 70, criticised the financial demands of Stuttgart in the deal and used the opportunity to direct a jibe at Newcastle.
“When the story with Woltemade and Stuttgart’s demands came up, at some point I said to Uli [Hoeness], Herbert Hainer, Jan Dreesen and Max Eberl: ‘Guys, we’re getting into sums of money that I simply don’t find acceptable anymore,'” Rummenigge said.
He joked that one could only “congratulate Stuttgart for finding an idiot – in quotation marks – who paid so much money,” adding: “Because we certainly wouldn’t have done that in Munich.”
Stuttgart’s chairman Alexander Wehrle delivered a witty retort, stating, “We are always delighted to receive congratulations from Munich,” punctuated with a wink.
Woltemade’s Early Impact at Newcastle
Nick Woltemade has made a promising start to life at St James’ Park, netting two goals in his first five appearances for Newcastle. Despite his individual contributions, the Magpies have recorded just one win from six league fixtures and currently sit 15th in the Premier League standings.
| Woltemade at Newcastle | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 5 |
| Goals | 2 |
| Premier League Wins (Team) | 1 (from 6 games) |
| Current League Position | 15th |
| Transfer Fee | £69 million |
Conclusion
Stuttgart’s sharp response to Rummenigge’s “idiot” comment has added further intrigue to an already headline-grabbing transfer. While Bayern Munich looked elsewhere, Newcastle took the gamble on Woltemade, who has quickly begun to repay their investment on the pitch, albeit during a challenging start for the team overall.
