Spalletti: ‘There must be a reason Kolo Muani hasn’t played for two years'
Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti has challenged new signing Randal Kolo Muani to confront a two-year absence from regular football after the French forward failed to shine in a 1-0 win at Frosinone Calcio on Sunday.
Speaking to broadcaster DAZN after the match, Spalletti said: "We went out and signed him (Kolo Muani), we've looked after him and we know his worth, but he needs to realise he hasn't played for two years and there must be a reason for that."
He added: "Sometimes you think you're at an exceptional level, but then you've left something behind and you have to go and get it back."
The 27-year-old returned to Juventus for a second spell after spending half a season on loan at the Turin club last year, signing a five-year contract in a deal worth 38 million euros ($44.35 million) earlier this month. Juve signed the former Paris St Germain forward as a replacement for Dusan Vlahovic following the Serbian's departure to Besiktas. In his first spell at Juve, Kolo Muani scored 10 goals in 22 appearances before PSG loaned him to Tottenham Hotspur for the 2025-26 season.
Spalletti told DAZN that Kolo Muani should have been on the scoresheet in their Serie A opener, with Brazilian centre-back Gleison Bremer netting the only goal. "Kolo knows how to hold onto the ball, find space and is physically strong, but these are the sort of matches where he needs to score goals," he argued.
The match itself saw Juventus dominate, holding 63 per cent possession and registering 20 shots, with Bremer scoring a header in the 22nd minute from a Francisco Conceicao delivery. Spalletti was measured in his overall assessment: "I would have preferred the team to show it has an identity, and it did that. At certain moments we're a bit light, we're not good at bringing that determination."
Spalletti also praised the opposition, saying "Frosinone are a strong side, with a coach who has given them this conviction. It's not easy to manage, because they come at you." He hinted at a different approach in the transfer market, noting, "The striker we're looking for might have different characteristics," and added, "Today the spaces were there but we weren't able to exploit them."
Reports also indicated that Guglielmo Sadio was substituted in stoppage time due to cramps during his Serie A debut, and that Kenan Yildiz suffered a foot injury likely requiring surgery and could be sidelined for up to three months. Spalletti is expected to add another centre-forward to the squad, with Alexander Sorloth and Jean-Philippe Mateta reportedly preferred over Josha Zirkzee.
Juventus next host Parma on Saturday.