Kayode’s Italy call‑up after Brentford’s Chelsea win, Nigeria linger

Michael Kayode discovered his first senior Italy call‑up on his phone at the final whistle of Brentford’s 3‑0 win over Chelsea on Friday, a moment he described as “incredible emotion”. The 22‑year‑old also confirmed that Nigeria had approached him about a senior call‑up, which he declined.

Call‑up revealed after Chelsea win

Kayode said he only learned of the Italy selection after the match, saying: “I didn’t know about the Italy call‑up before the game; I found out at the final whistle, on my phone.” He added that the triumph over Chelsea amplified the feeling of pride.

International pedigree and squad selection

Roberto Mancini included Kayode among ten potential debutants for the upcoming Nations League fixtures, where the Azzurri will face Belgium, France and Turkey both home and away. The squad list reflects Mancini’s intent to blend youth with experience as Italy prepares for the break.

Kayode has already left his mark at youth level, scoring the winner in the Euro U19 final against Portugal and helping Italy secure the trophy for the first time. Those performances paved the way for his senior call‑up.

Club career, personal life and future outlook

When asked about the Nigeria approach, Kayode replied: “It was a very easy decision. I went through all the youth teams here. Nigeria approached me, but I never thought about changing national teams. I think Italy have always been a great national team, and playing here is an honour.”

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At Brentford, the former Fiorentina defender has made 63 appearances, scoring two goals and providing three assists. He arrived on a €500,000 loan from Fiorentina in the January 2025 window, and the English club made the move permanent for €17.5 million at the end of that campaign.

Kayode also celebrated a Serie A goal for Fiorentina against Lazio on 26 February 2024 in Florence, Italy, later saying: “I’m very proud. I spent a lot of time in Florence, and what I experienced there was fantastic. I owe Fiorentina a lot; in a way, it’s where I was born.”

Known for his long throw‑ins, Kayode explained that he discovered the skill in England: “One day, I woke up and found out I could do long throw‑ins. I didn’t use it much in Florence, but at Brentford I found a coach who focuses on this, so we practice it in training.” He began his career in the Juventus academy before dropping to Gozzano in Serie D, a move he says gave him the strength to progress.

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He often advises younger players not to despair after a step down: “That Serie D season when I was 16 helped me a lot. Don’t be afraid to drop down a level to get playing time and improve.”

Off the pitch, Kayode is a proud father; a recent social‑media post introduced his partner and daughter. He thanked Brentford for stadium availability and said the club and his family give him strength. A photo caption read: BRENTFORD, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 18, noting Juventus were interested last summer, but Kayode said he is happy with how things are going at Brentford.