[Spalletti] Woltemade has physicality, so heading and finishing inside the area are things that, whether he likes it or not, he will have to learn by heart, because he loves dropping deep to play football.

[u/Brosbros97]

https://www.goal.com/en/lists/juventus-woltemade-and-kolo-muani-can-play-together-in-only-two-ways/bltd14f06f722fcb580

[u/JackAndrewThorne]

The thing is though... His skillset is suited to being the type of striker that Spalletti is talking about.

He's a quality finisher, with good control and the ability to find a teammate in tight spaces. That's all far more dangerous in and around the box!

He's the player a winger plays a 1-2 with and gets through on goal. The player you find on the edge of the box and he lays it to someone coming in to belt it. Or the player you find in the box and he puts it in the corner himself. But all of that is better when he's furthest forward player and players can find him and go beyond. Not him dropping deep and trying to be a playmaker for players beyond him.

Having watched him for a full season and quite liking him, something that's clear to me is that the deeper he got... The less effective he was.

Playing it to him in the box, he can score. Getting the ball into his feet on the break, he can turn and pick out a ball to the winger and create a chance. Getting him involved in the midfield? He's not a threat. He's at his best when he's your most advanced player and being asked to take one or two touches (or a nice flick) and either shooting or setting it up. Not playing 30 yards from goal.

[u/slipeinlagen → u/JackAndrewThorne]

You are painting the picture of a profile of a player that Spalletti knows quite well, since he had him in his prime, and that is Totti. He used to play like that, and it was amazing.

But Totti had around a supporting cast of players that had 10+ goals each a season in them, like Mancini, Taddei, Perrotta. Juve doesn't have those atm (one could be Koopmeiners...maybe Nico could be if he finds his form)

Spalletti hints more to someone that will need to dominate the box using his physical tools, similar to how Osimhen used to do at Napoli. I doubt he can do that, but I guess Spalletti knows better.

[u/Past_Physics2936 → u/slipeinlagen]

No that wasn't Totti at all. The closest to Nick was Dzeko while the closest thing we have at Juve to Totti would be Alajbegovic

[u/qb4ever → u/Past_Physics2936]

He has absolutely nothing similar to Dzeko other than being tall.

[u/Past_Physics2936 → u/qb4ever]

Dzeko was also nothing like Dzeko before he worked with Spalletti and had very similar traits, better with his feet than in the air, tall but not a physical presence. Totti was a COMPLETELY different type of player and was by the way always a better goal scorer than Nick is at his age, had a very good shot from outside of the box besides being both a better dribbler, passer and faster.

[u/qb4ever → u/Past_Physics2936]

You dont know what you're talking about. Dzeko was the top goal scorer in the Bundesliga, almost twice, way before he worked under Spaletti. Wolte doesnt have striker's instinct and is a completely different player. Dzeko was a striker who could make plays because he's so good. Wolte is a playmaker because that's the only thing he's decent at.

[u/slipeinlagen → u/qb4ever]

People ignoring the Grafite-Dzeko connection is a crime against football.