Spalletti Vows to Stick With Kolo Muani Despite Poor Form

Luciano Spalletti says he is standing by Randal Kolo Muani, even after another underwhelming display from the striker and the Juventus team as a whole.

The Juve boss made his position clear in comments to Calciomercato, insisting he has no plans to change course on the Frenchman despite growing doubts among fans about the club's decision to re-sign him this summer.

"I don't know if it can become a problem, but Woltemade has that structure there and he's strong in his head, you can go and use it," Spalletti said. 

"Kolo Muani? I'm on that wagon and I'll stay, see where I take us. I jump on the bandwagon when I choose him as a striker, now I stay there until the end of the championship. We'll see where it takes us."

The comments mark a shift in tone from a few weeks ago. Spalletti had earlier criticised Kolo Muani's performances, a move that drew pushback from parts of the Italian media, who felt he was being too tough on the striker. This time, though, opinion appears to have swung more in Spalletti's favor following another shaky team performance, even as he continues to publicly back his forward.

Juventus brought Kolo Muani back permanently after he impressed during a loan spell in 2025, a run of form good enough to convince the club he was worth investing in long term. So far this season, though, he hasn't come close to reproducing that level, and some fans are starting to wonder whether letting him leave PSG on those terms was the right call for Juve to make.

There is still time for Kolo Muani to turn things around, but the early signs haven't been encouraging. Juventus need much more from their No. 9 if they want to compete for their targets this season, and the pressure on him will only grow if performances don't improve soon.

For now, Spalletti seems intent on giving his striker the space to find his form, betting that the trust he's shown will eventually pay off on the pitch.