Julian Nagelsmann gives verdict on Nick Woltemade transfer as Germany coach tells striker to prioritise playing time amid Stuttgart and Bayern Munich saga

Stuttgart will not be selling Woltemade this summer despite the player's agreement to join Bayern and the Munich side's offers for him. Talk over a possible transfer still looms, however, and Germany coach Nagelsmann has suggested the 23-year-old will play a more central role for Stuttgart than he could have at Bayern Munich. This comes across as a big stance from Stuttgart who have played hardball with Bayern all summer while rejecting many transfer proposals from the 2024-25 Bundesliga champions.  

Nagelsmann, who was present at the Supercup game, was asked about the situation surrounding Woltemade. The coach stressed that his priority remains to see his players get ample minutes, and especially because of the upcoming World Cup next season. For this, he believes Stuttgart is the right place for Woltemade to grow. 

Stuttgart insisted that they would only listen to offers made for Woltemade until the Supercup date, considering him untouchable afterwards. Vincent Kompany's side pursued the German striker's signing for long but were unable to match Stuttgart's €70 million (£60m/$81m) price tag. The deal was further complicated by Stuttgart's cold behaviour towards their domestic competitor which irritated both the Bayern camp and the player's representative. 

Asked about the Woltemade saga, the Germany coach told Sky: "We talked about it because I'm interested in him playing. All potential international players should get playing time before the World Cup. I just want my players to play. Where, I don't care."

He further added: "Bayern is counting on more games than Stuttgart. I don't have to be a quantum physicist to say that the probability of more playing time is higher at VfB than at Bayern. He played a strong second half of the season; he wasn't as stable in the first half. I am in favour of him going where he gets more playing time."

Woltemade appears set to remain at Stuttgart for the start of the 2025-26 season despite Bayern's interest. 

"The file is closed and the issue is off the table for this calendar year," Stuttgart have said.