Shock and strong reactions following Spalletti’s comments about Kolo Muani
Luciano Spalletti’s comments about Randal Kolo Muani—the Juventus forward who put in a lackluster performance against Frosinone, where he squandered numerous scoring chances—are causing concern among Juventus fans. “We went out and signed him ourselves, we’ve pampered him, and we know his true value. But we also have to realize that the guy hasn’t played in two years. And there must be a reason for that,” he said. His words also made an impact on social media. “You invested a fortune in a guy like this at such a delicate time, and then you complain??” observed Elio. “Did you notice he didn’t even play in the World Cup with France?” asked Franco. “At this point, I’m afraid he might do worse than Openda and David,” declared Marcello. “Oh well, at least they didn’t pay much for him…” Bruno quipped.
What makes Spalletti’s words even more significant is the context in which they were made: Juventus signed Kolo Muani from PSG for 38 million euros plus 12 in bonuses—a significant sum for a club that, due to failing to qualify for the Champions League last season, is forced to navigate the transfer market with great caution. The Certaldo-born coach, after all, had already outlined his offensive philosophy at the start of the summer, stating that he didn’t consider a 20-goal center forward indispensable and that he intended to spread the scoring load across multiple players. The performance against Frosinone, however, seems to have called that vision into question.
It’s no coincidence that the name coming up most frequently at Juventus is Joshua Zirkzee. The Dutch forward from Manchester United, who has already been on Juventus’s radar in recent weeks, fits the ideal profile for the characteristics Spalletti is looking for: after a disappointing two-year stint in the Premier League—just nine goals and four assists in two seasons, with frequent stints on the bench at Old Trafford—the 2001-born player has reportedly already let his entourage know that he is open to a move to Juventus. However, an agreement on the terms of the deal has yet to be reached: United is pushing for a mandatory buyout clause, while Juventus would prefer a loan with an option to buy. As a viable alternative, the name of Ermedin Demirovic—a Bosnian forward for Stuttgart coming off a season with 15 total goals—also remains on the list, as he offers physicality and consistent goal-scoring ability.
The key to unlocking the transfer market could be the sale of Jonathan David. The Canadian, who arrived on a free transfer from Lille a year ago but has fallen short of expectations, has so far rejected all offers from England and France—notably from Hull City, Rennes, and Lens—in the hope of receiving a more attractive proposal. Juventus, which pays him a net salary of 6 million euros per season, has every interest in expediting his departure to finance the signing of a new striker. A further complication on the outgoing front concerns Nico Gonzalez: the Argentine, fresh off a successful loan stint at Atlético Madrid, has made it clear he does not want to stay in Turin but has rejected advances from Beşiktaş, awaiting an offer from the Colchoneros, who are, however, deliberately stalling until the final days of the transfer window.
