‘He needs to get it back’ – Luciano Spalletti challenges Randal Kolo Muani after Juventus win

Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti has challenged Randal Kolo Muani to raise his level after the French forward struggled to make an impact in his side’s 1-0 victory over Frosinone Calcio on Sunday.

Kolo Muani returned to Juventus for a second spell this month after impressing during a loan stint at the Turin club last season. The 27-year-old signed a five-year contract in a deal reportedly worth €38 million ($44.35 million), with Juventus viewing him as the long-term replacement for Dusan Vlahovic, who has departed for Besiktas.

However, his latest competitive outing did little to convince Spalletti that the forward has rediscovered the form that made him such a threat during his first spell in Turin.

Kolo Muani scored 10 goals in 22 appearances for Juventus during his initial loan spell after joining from Paris Saint-Germain. He subsequently spent the 2025-26 season on loan at Tottenham Hotspur before securing a permanent return to the Italian giants.

Spalletti demands more from Kolo Muani

Despite Juventus securing all three points through Gleison Bremer’s decisive goal, Spalletti was clear that Kolo Muani should have done more in front of goal.

Speaking to DAZN, the Juventus boss acknowledged the qualities that convinced the club to bring the forward back but insisted there is still significant work to be done if he is to reach his previous level.

“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,” Spalletti said.

The Italian coach believes Kolo Muani must accept that his recent struggles are not simply a matter of bad luck and instead work to recover the qualities that previously made him an important attacking option.

“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.”

Juventus expect goals from their new striker

Spalletti remains convinced that Kolo Muani possesses the physical and technical attributes needed to succeed at Juventus, but he wants those qualities translated into goals.

“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.”

The victory at Frosinone gives Juventus an encouraging start to their Serie A campaign, but Spalletti’s comments underline the expectations surrounding Kolo Muani following his permanent move.

With Vlahovic no longer leading the attack, Juventus will expect the Frenchman to shoulder a greater scoring burden. His ability to rediscover his sharpness in front of goal could prove crucial to the club’s ambitions this season.

Kolo Muani will have another opportunity to respond when Juventus host Parma on Saturday, with Spalletti expecting a more decisive contribution from his new attacking spearhead.