Randal Kolo Muani arrived at Tottenham Hotspur with high expectations, but his move has quickly turned into one of the biggest disappointments of the season.
Those watching him closely in France have not held back in their assessment, describing his spell in London as nothing short of “catastrophic” and insisting the player has “completely disappeared” since joining Spurs.
Daniel Riolo and Walid Acherchour, two respected voices in French football, recently shared their thoughts, highlighting just how far the forward’s form has fallen since leaving Paris Saint-Germain.
Kolo Muani arrived on loan from PSG after enjoying a strong year at Juventus, where he looked sharp, confident, and comfortable against Serie A opposition. Spurs hoped that the same version of the player would appear in England, especially with Ange Postecoglou eager to add more mobility and versatility to his attack.
But what looked like a promising signing has instead turned into a frustrating and confusing situation. So far, the French forward has only managed eight appearances in all competitions, totalling just 321 minutes. He hasn’t scored a goal, and his only contribution on the stat sheet is a single assist.
It hasn’t helped that injuries have interrupted his rhythm from the moment he walked through the door at Hotspur Way. Just when he seemed close to settling, another setback arrived, stopping him from building the consistency any forward needs to find his form.
For a player trying to earn a place in next summer’s World Cup squad, the timing couldn’t have been worse. Didier Deschamps has always appreciated his work rate and flexibility, but the patience that once existed is now wearing thin. Kolo Muani did not make the France squad in September, and injuries ruled him out of both the October and November international windows.
Whether he can return for the next international break remains unclear, but those who follow the national team closely are not optimistic. Riolo remarked that Kolo Muani has “completely disappeared,” suggesting he sees no reason for Deschamps to bring him back into the setup at this stage.
Acherchour added that while the player has often performed better for France than for his clubs, even that connection may not be strong enough to save him this time. He explained that the situation at Tottenham has become a real problem, with injury after injury stopping Kolo Muani from building any momentum.
He also argued that the forward should no longer be seen as a natural number nine, but more as a right-sided attacker yet even in that position, he faces serious competition from players like Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, and the fast-rising Joris Akliouche.
These comments arrive shortly after reports in France claimed that Kolo Muani’s previous inclusion in Deschamps’ squad caused some tension behind the scenes, suggesting not everyone agreed with the decision.
With his form collapsing at club level and his chances of representing France shrinking, the pressure surrounding him is growing rapidly.
Tottenham, meanwhile, expected a forward who could offer pace, movement, and unpredictability, but have instead found themselves with a player unable to stay fit long enough to build confidence.
The club still believes he has the talent to contribute, but with Mohammed Kudus, Son Heung-min, Brennan Johnson, and others competing for minutes, it becomes harder each week for Kolo Muani to carve out a real role. For a player fighting for his international career, this situation feels especially bleak.
Spurs’ coaching staff will hope that a clean bill of health can help turn things around, but at this stage, his loan looks like a gamble that simply hasn’t paid off. If he cannot rediscover his spark quickly, both Tottenham and PSG may soon have difficult decisions to make about his long-term future.
For now, the story of his move to London is one defined by frustration, missed opportunities, and a talent struggling to find its place.
