'An Unforgettable Night': Kayode Reveals He Learned of Italy Call-Up After Brentford Demolished Chelsea

Michael Kayode has revealed the extraordinary timing of his first senior Italy call-up, explaining that he only discovered he had been summoned by the Azzurri in the moments after Brentford's emphatic 3-0 victory over Chelsea. The 21-year-old right-back described a whirlwind evening in west London: a statement Premier League win, followed by the news every young footballer dreams of. 'I found out after the final whistle,' Kayode is quoted as saying by Football Italia. 'It was already a perfect night, and this made it unforgettable.' The call-up caps a rapid rise for the defender, a Fiorentina academy graduate who shone in Italy's Under-19 European Championship triumph before making the leap to English football with Brentford. Now he has the chance to prove himself at senior level as Italy gear up for the 2026 World Cup — the Azzurri's first appearance at the finals since 2014, following the agony of missing both 2018 and 2022. Kayode also confirmed that Nigeria had explored his availability, with the Super Eagles keen to lure the flying full-back into their own World Cup project given his family heritage. But the youngster insisted his answer was never in doubt. 'Nigeria did approach me, and I have huge respect for them and what they are building,' he told Football Italia. 'But I grew up in Italian football, I won things with the Italian youth teams, and wearing the Azzurri shirt has always been my dream.' His commitment is a significant boost for Italy's coaching staff as planning intensifies for the tournament in North America. With competition fierce at right-back, Kayode's pace, aggression and appetite for bombing forward have clearly made an impression — and strong performances in the coming months could put him firmly in contention for a seat on the plane to the World Cup. For Brentford, the timing underlines the club's growing reputation as a launchpad for international talent. For Kayode, it is validation for a season of adaptation to the Premier League's relentless demands, proof that his risk in leaving Serie A is paying off on the biggest stage. One thing is certain: the night Brentford swept Chelsea aside will be remembered in the Kayode household for far more than three points. It was the night an Italy international was born — and possibly the first chapter of a World Cup story.