With four-time World Cup champion Italy shockingly missing the last three tournaments, coach Roberto Mancini has turned to the sons of African immigrants to inject energy into the squad. Among them is 22-year-old Nigerian-Italian defender Michael Kayode, who scored on his Azzurri debut during a Nations League match on Sept. 28. Kayode also plays for Premier League club Brentford, where he has built a fierce reputation for his long throw-ins. Andrew Dampf reports.
As a kid, Michael Kayode dreamed of becoming a sprinter like his idol, Usain Bolt. These days, Kayode is still sprinting – albeit up and down the flanks of soccer fields instead of running tracks. And suddenly, the 22-year-old right back is the face of a multiethnic revitalization of Italy’s struggling national team.
Born in Italy to Nigerian parents, Kayode scored one goal and set up another in his Azzurri debut on Sept. 28, a 4-1 victory over Turkey in a Nations League group-stage match.
Of the current Italy squad, five other players – Honest Ahanor, Issa Doumbia, Mohamed Alì Zoma, Moise Kean, and Eddy Kouadio – are also of African descent.
Roberto Mancini, who was rehired as coach after four-time champion Italy failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, has been looking for new faces to inject energy into his team.
“It hurts not to have qualified for the World Cup, but whenever something bad happens, I always try to see it as a new beginning,” Kayode said. “We’re here to work hard and open a new cycle.”
Kayode went from Italy’s fourth division, Serie D, to the Premier League in a four-year span: He joined Brentford last year. The English club had a strong start to the season, in sixth place after eight matches, with only one loss and a 3-0 win over Chelsea on the day Kayode received his call-up.
Before he dedicated himself to soccer, though, Kayode loved running. “I always watched Bolt at the Olympics. And athletes like Gatlin, Blake,” Kayode said.
But since his father was always watching soccer games on TV, Kayode got interested in football, too.
At age six, Kayode started training at Juventus’ youth academy, but the Turin club let him go at 14, and he ended up with Gozzano in Serie D. Fiorentina then signed him to its youth academy and his rise has been rapid: A Serie A debut at 19, a spot in the starting lineup of a squad that reached the Conference League final, and the move to England.
National allegiance
While he could have played for Nigeria, Kayode also featured for Italy’s youth squads, playing for the national under-18, under-19, and under-21 teams.
“Nigeria approached me, but it’s an honor for anyone to play for Italy,” Kayode said during his presentation at the national team’s Coverciano training center.
At Coverciano, Kayode was also reunited with Alberto Bollini, who coached Italy’s under-19 team to the European championship in 2023 and is now Mancini’s assistant.
Kayode scored in the 1-0 victory over Portugal in the 2023 under-19 final.
“Seeing (Bollini) here again is fantastic. I owe him so much,” Kayode said. “The feeling of winning that European Championship is unforgettable. I still look back at the photos and videos today.”
Tremendous throw-ins
Since joining Brentford in January 2025, Kayode has become known for his extra-ordinary ability on throw-ins – which have been measured at longer than 40 yards.
“I practically just woke up one day and discovered that I had these long throw-ins,” Kayode said. “When I was at Fiorentina I didn’t do it much, but then when I went to England, I realized I had a coach who depended on them, so we started using set plays and tactics, and it’s working.”
The throw-ins have become so associated with Kayode that he made one on social media to announce the gender of his daughter, Amelie, who was born in August.
“Being a father at my age is an incredible feeling,” Kayode said. “I don’t think there is any greater joy.”