Spalletti: Inter more of a team than Juventus; praises Alajbegovic and Kolo Muani
Quick summary
Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti stated that Inter are more of a team than Juventus, while praising new additions Alajbegovic and Kolo Muani as strong signings.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceLuciano Spalletti assures he ‘evaluated carefully’ Kerim Alajbegovic and Randal Kolo Muani before Juventus signed them, but Inter were ‘more of a team than us’ in today’s friendly.
The Bianconeri are making many changes after a campaign that saw them finish sixth in the Serie A table, missing out on Champions League football.
PERTH, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 08: Randal Kolo Muani of Juventus and Carlos Augusto of FC Internazionale contest a header during the match between Juventus and FC Internazionale at Optus Stadium on August 08, 2026 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) It has taken far longer than expected to get many of the reinforcements required, as today Kolo Muani and Alajbegovic made their debuts in the second half of a 2-1 friendly defeat to Inter in Perth.
Spalletti early days for Juventus MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 26: Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus, looks on prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 26, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) “I evaluated carefully before they were signed, as I wanted to get a good look at them first,” Spalletti told Sky Sport Italia.
“Alajbegovic had already been tracked by (director Ricky) Massara beforehand, so that’s reassuring. They both need to get into match shape, as they’ve only been with us for three days, so perhaps I rushed it by asking them to play an entire half today.”
There were flashes of quality from the two strikers, who arrived from Bayer Leverkusen and Paris Saint-Germain.
PERTH, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 08: Kerim Alajbegovic of Juventus makes a run makes a during the match between Juventus and FC Internazionale at Optus Stadium on August 08, 2026 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images) Federico Dimarco and Andy Diouf scored for Inter, showcasing the usual problems in goal with a Michele Di Gregorio howler, while Francisco Conceicao got one back late on.
“These are strong players at a high level, so we must try to figure out how to find the right balance and become a team,” added Spalletti.
“Inter showed in the first half they were more of a team than us. It is a process that we simply need to go through, we have to take steps forward.”
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What happened
Speaking to the media, Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti offered a candid comparison between his side and rivals Inter, acknowledging that Inter function more cohesively as a unit. He singled out January/new signings Alajbegovic and Randal Kolo Muani for praise, calling them strong additions to the squad. The comments come amid a high-stakes period in the Serie A season, with Juventus looking to close the gap on their rivals.
Chance analysis
A manager publicly conceding that a direct rival is more cohesive than his own team is a rare and significant admission, likely to shape media narratives and pressure perceptions around Juventus. The praise for Kolo Muani and Alajbegovic suggests both are likely to feature prominently in upcoming fixtures, potentially boosting attacking options. For prediction systems, the comments hint at a transitional phase for Juventus, with integration of new signings still ongoing.
Negative pressure on Juventus team cohesion narrative; positive outlook for Kolo Muani and Alajbegovic as likely key attacking contributors.
Expect Juventus to still be gelling as a unit; weight Inter's cohesion advantage in tight matches and factor Kolo Muani/Alajbegovic into attacking projections.