Brentford defender Michael Kayode has revealed that Nigeria approached him over a possible switch of international allegiance before he received his first senior call-up to the Italian national team.
The 22-year-old, who was born in Italy to Nigerian parents, said he never seriously considered changing his international allegiance because of his long association with the Azzurri.
Kayode has represented Italy at several youth levels and was part of the team that won the 2023 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. He scored the winning goal against Portugal in the final.
Speaking at a press conference after receiving his senior call-up, Kayode confirmed that Nigeria had contacted him.
“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,” he said.
“I think Italy have always been a great national team, and playing here is an honour.”
Kayode’s senior call-up comes after an impressive rise at Brentford. He joined the Premier League club from Fiorentina in January 2025 and made the move permanent later that year. He has since established himself as an important player for the Bees.
The defender said he learned about his Italy call-up shortly after Brentford’s 3-0 victory over Chelsea on September 18. He had scored in the match before discovering the news on his phone after the final whistle.
Kayode is now part of Italy’s squad for their upcoming Nations League fixtures and could make his senior debut during the international window.
