Kolo Muani under scrutiny: Spalletti weighs benching as wake-up call

Spalletti is considering benching Kolo Muani for Juventus's trip to Genoa, with rotation and a potential wake-up call both factors in the decision.

Kolo Muani faces an uncertain future at Juventus after another underwhelming display in the 1-0 win at Lecce. The French striker, signed for €50 million from PSG, has struggled to find form and manager Luciano Spalletti is weighing whether to drop him to the bench for tomorrow's match against Genoa at Marassi.

Spalletti took a day to reflect on the decision and will announce it today. If Muani is benched, Alajbegovic or Boga could operate as a second striker or attacking midfielder in support of Woltemade. The manager has cited the absence of Nico Gonzalez as a constraint on his attacking options, noting he lacks a suitable replacement for his two strikers on the bench in a 3-5-2 formation.

While a rest would be routine rotation given Juventus's packed schedule—Napoli at home on Sunday, then Europa League in the Netherlands against AZ Alkmaar and a trip to Florence before the international break—it also carries a message. Muani has started three consecutive matches, playing 90 minutes against Lazio, 80 against Rennes, and 70 before being substituted at Lecce. A spell on the sidelines could serve as both tactical adjustment and a signal to refocus the underperforming forward.