Newcastle United manager Jaissle says Walter Martens has his full backing to succeed at Juventus after the German midfielder completed a loan move on transfer deadline day.
Martens is expected to make his Juventus debut in Sunday evening’s match against AC Milan, and Jaissle confirmed he will be watching the game closely after holding a final conversation with the player before approving his temporary departure.
The Newcastle manager said Martens’ decision was driven by the prospect of a playing role that better suited his style, rather than by restrictions on the club’s transfer business. His exit came at the same time as Newcastle’s signing of Fernandez-Pardo from Lille for approximately £51m.
However, Jaissle stressed that the move was primarily linked to how Martens had been used during the first half of the season, rather than a decision made simply to create space for another arrival.
Speaking at his pre-match news conference, Jaissle said: “I admire Nick as a player very, very much, not only for his on-field ability but also for his qualities as a person and off the field. We always had frank conversations, and he decided to accept a new challenge. I hope he performs well at another top club, and we will be watching him closely. I am looking forward to his performance and am optimistic that he will shine there. He will score many goals, but he is still our player, and we will stay in close contact.”
Martens had previously indicated that his departure was based on his playing style and the opportunity to secure more regular football. Jaissle said Newcastle’s approach remained centred on recruiting players who fit the club’s footballing identity.
Asked whether the loan had been sanctioned to accommodate other new signings, he replied: “I cannot say this is a sign of the club becoming a ‘transfer club’. We have a clear philosophy on how to play and how to recruit young, talented players who perfectly fit our tactical style. We want to maintain tactical consistency, which makes me feel secure about the future because it is the basis for a clear direction, not only on the field, but all departments need to improve. This is special, and it is one of the reasons I signed.”
Jaissle described the decision to allow Martens to leave as difficult, but said the player had earned the chance to take the next step in his career.
“This was a difficult decision. I really appreciate this player; he has huge potential. But he decided to take the next step and get the playing time that his ability deserves. I hope he finds the fit he wants and the kind that Juventus is looking for. I told him yesterday that I would pray for him; he deserves to play and perform well, and we will be watching him closely.”
The Newcastle manager added that he expected Martens to score regularly for Juventus and said the two parties would remain in close contact during the loan spell.
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