The door to the Super Eagles has effectively slammed shut on Michael Kayode, and the Brentford defender has wasted little time making Italy feel like home, Footynaija reports.
Kayode, 22, was approached by Nigeria but had already made his preference clear after progressing through Italy’s youth ranks. He helped Italy win the 2023 European Under-19 Championship, scoring the winner against Portugal in the final, before eventually earning Roberto Mancini’s senior call-up this month.
His decision received its most emphatic confirmation on Monday night in Bursa.
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Handed his first Italy start against Türkiye in the UEFA Nations League after sitting out the 2-0 defeat by Belgium, Kayode delivered a debut that could scarcely have been scripted better. He helped create Davide Frattesi’s 22nd-minute goal before scoring Italy’s third in the 27th minute, firing a low finish past Altay Bayindir after a slick passing move.
Italy eventually won 4-1 at the Atatürk Spor Kompleksi Matlı Stadyumu, with Alessandro Bastoni and Frattesi also scoring before Francesco Pio Esposito added a fourth five minutes after half-time. Kayode played the full match.
The Brentford right-back’s arrival has therefore turned Nigeria’s pursuit into a closed chapter. Kayode had said the choice was easy because he had represented Italy throughout his youth career and “never thought about changing national teams”.
Now his Italy gamble has produced a goal, a win and a senior international debut to remember.
