Michael Kayode, a defender for Brentford, has stated his intention to await a senior call-up from Italy. Although he is also eligible to play for the Nigerian national team, Kayode emphasized his preference, saying, “I will always give priority to the Azzurri.”
The U21 Italy international expressed his hope for a future call-up to the senior Italian squad.
Kayode: ‘Italy is my Priority’
Born in Borgomanero, Italy, on July 10, 2004, Kayode, aged 21, has Nigerian parents, making him eligible to represent either nation at the senior level. However, he firmly stated to Tuttosport, “I will always give priority to Italy; even at youth level, I grew up wearing the Azzurri shirt.” He added, “I hope to achieve this dream as soon as possible, but I have no doubt about which path to choose.”
Kayode has represented Italy at the U21 level ten times since his debut in 2023. He was also instrumental in the U19 Italy team’s victory in the European Championship final against Portugal in 2023, scoring the winning goal. This marked a historic first-time win for the youth Azzurrini.
While he had discussions with former Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso prior to the World Cup play-offs in March, he was not selected for the squad. Kayode acknowledged, “Yes, we also had dinner with other [Italian] Premier League players,” and felt “involved even without being called up for the play-offs.”
With Italy U21 coach Silvio Baldini set to take charge of the senior Azzurri for upcoming international friendlies against Luxembourg and Greece, Kayode is anticipated to be included in the team. Currently, his immediate focus remains on his club, stating, “For now, I’m only focused on qualifying for Europe with Brentford.” He added, “We can aim to qualify for the cup until the end, so we don’t want to let our guard down. The Azzurri shirt would be an enormous achievement, unthinkable until a few years ago, but I’ll think about it in a few weeks.”