Randal Kolo Muani’s return to form has given Juventus a timely attacking thread, and even a fractured finger has not interrupted it. After producing an assist and his first goal of the season against NEC in the Europa League, the French forward followed up with an energetic display against Atalanta and is expected to start again at Cagliari on 11 October.
Key takeaways
- Kolo Muani underwent a minor operation on the fifth finger of his right hand after playing the second half against Atalanta with a fracture.
- The procedure will not keep him out, and he can continue training during the international break.
- His Europa League contribution against NEC consisted of an assist for Celik and his first Juventus goal of the campaign.
- Against Atalanta, he played 89 minutes, reached 28 km/h, registered a shot on target, created a chance and completed two dribbles.
- Luciano Spalletti believes the striker can become Juventus’ defining signing of October.
A difficult season begins to turn
The renewed confidence around Kolo Muani is a sharp change from the opening weeks of the season. The 2025-26 campaign had brought only five goals during a disappointing Tottenham loan, while his first four Juventus appearances this term produced no goals and a succession of missed opportunities.
His sharper performances have recalled the forward seen before the end of his earlier Juventus spell in July 2025, following the club’s elimination from the Club World Cup in the United States more than 450 days ago. The difference now is not merely statistical: against NEC he made an impact from the bench while operating wider, setting up Celik before scoring himself. It was a release after an anxious start.
The Atalanta match did not bring a second successive goal, although he came close. Guglielmo Vicario cleared one of his attempts from the goal line, while Kolo Muani also contributed a goal-line intervention at the other end. His work rate, pace and direct running gave Juventus a more forceful presence across the front line, whether used centrally or from a wider starting position.
Spalletti had already altered his tone towards the 50-million-euro forward. After the match at Frosinone on 23 August, the coach had questioned why a player who had not featured regularly for two years should expect immediate prominence. Within a week, however, he publicly committed himself to the striker’s recovery, saying he had joined Kolo Muani’s “wagon” and would remain there until the end of the season.
Following the Atalanta victory over Maurizio Sarri’s side, Spalletti again backed his player. He said Kolo Muani deserved a goal, adding that the striker had lacked only that finishing touch and had also prevented one at the other end. The coach’s view is that Randal will show the scorer he can be and could become Juventus’ major October success.
An injury list that remains a concern
The broken finger nevertheless adds another medical episode to a demanding Juventus period. Kolo Muani required osteosynthesis to the phalanx of the little finger on his right hand, but the injury is not comparable to the more serious problems affecting Kenan Yildiz, Khephren Thuram and Manuel Locatelli. Goalkeeper Kamil Grabara is also due to undergo surgery.
Spalletti had warned after the Atalanta win that the squad must currently be careful even with minor physical demands. Juventus have seen a player require an operation after successive league rounds, a pattern the club will hope ends during the international pause.
For Kolo Muani, though, the latest setback is not expected to halt his momentum. He played through the pain against Atalanta, has been cleared to train and should be available from the opening minute in Cagliari. His revival also reflects a wider point about forwards and confidence: his former teammate Jonathan David has rediscovered his scoring touch on loan at Atletico, with three goals in four appearances, most recently in the derby against José Mourinho’s Real Madrid.
