Juventus are still waiting for Randal Kolo Muani’s first Serie A goal, but Luca Toni believes the French forward will become a scorer over the course of the campaign. The former Italy striker sees recent signs of progress, particularly in Juventus’ match against Atalanta, after a difficult opening spell for the player.
Quick facts
- Kolo Muani has scored in the Europa League against NEC but remains without a Serie A goal.
- Luca Toni expects him to finish with at least 15 goals, with 20 possible across all competitions.
- Toni views Kolo Muani and Nick Woltemade as an occasional pairing rather than Juventus’ regular attacking formula.
- Dusan Vlahovic has scored five times in seven Besiktas appearances.
- Jonathan David has registered three goals in four games on loan at Atletico, including one against Real Madrid.
Toni said Kolo Muani had attracted an excessive level of criticism after early problems. He accepted that a high-profile Juventus No. 9, signed for a major fee, inevitably faces scrutiny, but argued that the forward’s work for the side against Atalanta showed a clear improvement.
The 2006 World Cup winner does not regard Kolo Muani as a traditional penalty-box striker. Even so, he pointed to the player’s scoring record elsewhere and backed him to deliver between 15 and 20 goals during the season.
Luciano Spalletti’s possible use of Kolo Muani alongside Woltemade has been discussed as Juventus search for more solutions in attack. Toni does not expect two central forwards to become the coach’s preferred starting structure, seeing the so-called double No. 9 as a way to alter matches that have become congested or resistant.
Balance will remain central to that decision. Toni noted that Kolo Muani can operate outside the central lane or closer to another forward, qualities that could make him useful when Juventus need to change the picture during a game.
Woltemade, at 198cm, stands taller than Toni did in his playing career, but the former Juventus forward was not wholly convinced by the German’s instinct in front of goal. For Toni, a centre-forward’s defining characteristic remains ruthlessness inside the area.
He nevertheless acknowledged Woltemade’s technical ability and his contribution to collective play. Modern football, Toni suggested, increasingly values forwards who connect moves and serve the team, although his own preference remains for a striker who turns loose balls in the box into goals.
The contrast with Vlahovic is clear in Toni’s view. The Serbian, now rebuilding his form at Besiktas with five goals from seven matches, is the more classic No. 9 and a more natural penalty-area finisher than either Kolo Muani or Woltemade.
Vlahovic still has room to develop away from goal, where Kolo Muani is more comfortable. But Toni described the Serbian as a distinctive centre-forward and said Juventus’ decision to move on was likely influenced by contractual considerations as well as sporting planning.
Jonathan David’s revival at Atletico has added another thread to Juventus’ attacking story. The Canadian has scored three goals in four appearances during his loan, most recently against Real Madrid, after failing to settle in Turin.
Toni said the separation appeared beneficial for both club and player. David had scored freely before arriving at Juventus, but could not convert the chances that came his way there; at Atletico, he has found a setting in which his qualities are again producing goals.
