Spalletti questions why Kolo Muani hasn't played for two years
Quick summary
Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti publicly questioned why striker Randal Kolo Muani has gone without regular football for roughly two years, hinting at a potential role at the club.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceLuciano Spalletti delivered a pointed assessment of Randal Kolo Muani after Juventus opened their Serie A season with a 1-0 win at Frosinone , suggesting the forward has significant ground to make up before he is the player the club believe he can be.
Speaking to DAZN after the match, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb , Spalletti said: “We went and got Kolo, we’ve looked after him and we know what his value is. But he has to realise that he hasn’t played for two years and there must be a reason for that. Sometimes you think you’re at an exceptional level but you’ve left something behind that you need to go and get back.”
The criticism carried weight given the shape of the match.
Juventus held 63 per cent possession and registered 20 shots at the Stadio Benito Stirpe, but converted only once with Gleison Bremer’s 22nd-minute header from a Francisco Conceicao delivery settling it.
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) Spalletti hints at different striker profile for Juventus Spalletti tied the display directly to Juventus’ remaining business in the window.
“These are matches in which you have to take goals home because the spaces are in your favour,” he said.
“The striker we’re looking for might have different characteristics. Today the spaces were there but we weren’t able to exploit them.”
On the performance overall he was measured rather than damning.
“I would have preferred the team to show it has an identity, and it did that,” Spalletti said. “At certain moments we’re a bit light, we’re not good at bringing that determination. But it can happen, especially at the start. We’ll work on it.”
Asked whether Juventus could have managed the game better, he credited the hosts before turning the question back on his own players.
“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 said.
“If you manage to free yourself from these little prisons then there’s freedom. It depends whether you want to be free or a prisoner. At certain moments we want to become prisoners even when we’re free.”
Spalletti also confirmed Guglielmo Vicario’s stoppage-time withdrawal on his Serie A debut was nothing to worry about.
“No, just cramp,” he said. “There was a moment when he felt a strong pull and we preferred to substitute him.”
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What happened
Speaking publicly, Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti raised eyebrows by remarking that there must be a reason Randal Kolo Muani has not been playing consistently for around two years. The comments suggest Spalletti is weighing the French striker's role and availability, with the implication that he may be ready to give Kolo Muani meaningful minutes. The forward, who has been linked with Juventus on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, has struggled for regular starts. Spalletti's remarks add a layer of intrigue around the player's future involvement in the squad.
Chance analysis
When a head coach publicly questions a player's recent playing time, it usually signals an internal assessment being aired — either to motivate, to manage expectations, or to set the stage for a shift in selection. Spalletti's remark about Kolo Muani is significant because it hints the Italian tactician sees a player who has been underused rather than one lacking quality. For Juventus, the subtext is clear: if Kolo Muani is to feature, Spalletti appears willing to give him a runway, which could reshape the club's attacking rotation.
Spalletti's public questioning of Kolo Muani's lack of minutes may foreshadow increased playing time for the striker, potentially boosting Juventus' attacking depth.