The Bayern Munich powerbroker branded Newcastle "idiots" for paying a fee rising to €90m to sign Woltemade from Stuttgart.
Currently away with the Germany squad, Woltemade has now directly addressed Rummenigge's comments.
He began, "The whole Newcastle package had potential for tension, especially since I arrived on the last day. Then there was the transfer fee. And the expectations placed on me, because Newcastle's top striker, Alexander Isak, had left. The start to the season wasn't ideal. There was definitely pressure – I was very glad that it subsided."
Woltemade continued: "The transfer fee was a very prominent topic; I couldn't avoid it. I was frequently confronted with it. But I didn't choose this situation; I'm the least responsible for the sums involved. Nevertheless, I was happy that Newcastle saw enough potential in me to pay that amount."
For Woltemade, "it makes no difference whether I go from Werder Bremen to Stuttgart on a free transfer or from VfB Stuttgart to Newcastle for €75 million. Even though I know that the transfer fee means a few more pairs of eyes are on me. However, the issue of transfer fees is viewed much more relaxed in England than in Germany. Within the team, the issue of transfer fees doesn't play a role anyway."
Rummenigge swipe
Woltemade also said of not responding to Rummenigge immediately: "I think that was the right thing to do. This summer, a lot was made of my name, Bayern, and the transfer fee; that was the story of the summer.
"The headlines afterwards all said 'idiots'. But I read Mr. Rummenigge's entire statement – it was certainly somewhat unfortunate, but not quite so dramatic..."