Muani was picked up by the then Juventus manager Thiago Motta after the striker’s winter loan deal with Tottenham Hotspur collapsed.
The 26-year-old made an instant impact in Serie A, scoring goals for fun to relegate Dusan Vlahovic to the bench. Yet he swiftly fell out of favor when Motta was replaced by Igor Tudor as interim head coach.
Vlahovic was restored to starting matches under Tudor, his former manager at Hellas Verona, until a niggling injury gave Muani the chance to show his silky skills.
Muani became first choice over Vlahovic, which continued at the FIFA Club World Cup. Juve wanted Muani to return, especially as unsettled Vlahovic was refusing to extend his contract and was actively seeking a switch to the Premier League.
While Vlahovic’s agent was busy trying to broker a deal either to La Liga, the Premier League or a Serie A rival, Juve entered talks with Muani’s club PSG.
Muani had a cluster of clubs keen to sign him. The French international rejected an approach from Manchester United as he publicly claimed that his heart was in Turin.
Summer talks to try seal deal for striker
Understandably, here was an optimism from all parties that an agreement would be found, but summer negotiations proved tricky.
Juve general manager Damion Comolli, who spent five years at Ligue 1 outfit Toulouse, was in constant talks with PSG who initially only wanted to sell Muani.
A season-long loan for Muani to join Juventus with a conditional obligation seemed to be on the cards. French sports media widely reported in late August that a deal between the clubs was imminent.
RMC Sport revealed that there were numerous changes in the structure of the proposed deal, which led PSG to cut talks on deadline day.
PSG played hard ball with Juventus
PSG suddenly increased the transfer fee from €40 million (US$46.9m) to €60m (US$70.3m). Juve wanted the obligation to buy conditions to include qualifying for the 2026/27 Champions League, which would require a top four finish.
As there was no agreement reached then Muani instead finally joined Tottenham on a season-long loan, without a permanent option. Comolli quickly secured the signature of unorthodox striker Lois Openda from RB Leipzig.
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi hit out at Juventus directors and fumed to Sports Zone about the Bianconeri: “You’ve been making fun of us for weeks. It’s over. You won’t win the case. I’ll remember your methods, you can count on that.” said the PSG manager.