Italy needed his energy. It needed a dose of Vitamin K. Michael Kayode wasted no time making his mark on a National Team still has to learn the ropes: He sang the anthem at the top of his lungs, made his first start, set up Davide Frattesi’s second goal with a wicked shot and then experienced the ultimate thrill by scoring Italy’s third goal. All in barely 27 minutes.

The 22-year-old fullback is not just fast down the right flank. His career has been marked by setbacks, fresh starts, dashed hopes and winding detours. That has been true at both the Club and International levels. He had to restart in Serie D after Juventus released him in 2018, and he found success in the Premier League with Fiornentina, after an uneasy relationship with Raffaele Palladino. Even Italy only just discovered him, despite having won the European Under-19 Championship three years ago.

 It has been a matter of tactical preferences and even questions about his physical fitness. Last March, for example, he joined late Italy’s Under-21 team under Silvio Baldini because he underwent more extensive medical tests than those required in England, where he played for Brentford since January 2025.

Apparently, it was all meant to happen this way. Kayode’s long pursuit of the Azzurri jersey finally ended Tuesday night in Bursa with a stunning debut.

 “I never imagined my debut would go like this,” he said with a smile. “It’s a truly unforgettable moment. We wanted to prove ourselves, and we gave the best possible response. The energy was there for us and for the fans. I’m going to have a hard time sleeping after everything I experienced. It was an incredible game.”

Only 91 players before him, out of more than 900 that have represented Italy, scored on their National Team debuts. The last was Mateo Retegui, who scored in March 2023 against England in Naples. Roberto Mancini was the coach then. But Kayode needed far less than the 56 minutes it took the Argentina-born striker to score, and his goal carries extra weight given his position as a defender.

 Against Turkey, though, Kayode often looked like an additional forward, repeatedly charging into the attack and nearly scoring again in the 72nd minute after a spectacular coast-to-coast run. His qualities are obvious, as he has the ability to launch the ball 40 yards with his hands — “I tried, but the rain wasn’t helping much” — along with his refusal to give up.

That is a lesson he learned the hard way.

Born in Borgomanero, Piedmont, to Nigerian parents, Kayode came through Juventus’ youth academy. In 2018, at 14, after six seasons with the club, Juventus released him without much hesitation. It happens in soccer, but Kayode had the strength not to let it break him. He returned to his hometown area to play for Gozzano and, in 2020-21, found himself in Serie D, Italy’s fourth tier, where he caught Fiorentina’s attention.

 The Florence club signed him for its youth team, eventually giving him his Serie A debut in August 2023. He scored his first top-flight goal in February 2024. He seemed destined for bigger things, but under Palladino he saw little playing time, and in the final days of the January 2025 transfer window he was sold to English club Brentford.

New team, new life. Kayode quickly adapted to the Premier League and emerged as one of its most intriguing young players.

 He grew up idolizing Paolo Maldini and reached the National Team after a recommendation from Alberto Bollini — not only the Italy Under-19 coach who gave Kayode his debut, but now one of Mancini’s assistants. So Kayode’s first Italy goal is partly dedicated to him, but even more so to little Amelie, whom he and Eleonora welcomed last August.

 They staged the gender reveal at Brentford’s stadium, sending pink balloons flying with one of Kayode’s trademark “catapults.”

That, too, was part of how he turned his fortunes around — and quickly made himself at home in Italy. aly needed his energy. It needed a dose of Vitamin K. Michael Kayode wasted no time making his mark on a National Team still has to learn the ropes: He sang the anthem at the top of his lungs, made his first start, set up Davide Frattesi’s second goal with a wicked shot and then experienced the ultimate thrill by scoring Italy’s third goal. All in barely 27 minutes.

 The 22-year-old fullback is not just fast down the right flank. His career has been marked by setbacks, fresh starts, dashed hopes and winding detours. That has been true at both the Club and International levels. He had to restart in Serie D after Juventus released him in 2018, and he found success in the Premier League with Fiornentina, after an uneasy relationship with Raffaele Palladino. Even Italy only just discovered him, despite having won the European Under-19 Championship three years ago.

It has been a matter of tactical preferences and even questions about his physical fitness. Last March, for example, he joined late Italy’s Under-21 team under Silvio Baldini because he underwent more extensive medical tests than those required in England, where he played for Brentford since January 2025.

 Apparently, it was all meant to happen this way. Kayode’s long pursuit of the Azzurri jersey finally ended Tuesday night in Bursa with a stunning debut.

“I never imagined my debut would go like this,” he said with a smile. “It’s a truly unforgettable moment. We wanted to prove ourselves, and we gave the best possible response. The energy was there for us and for the fans. I’m going to have a hard time sleeping after everything I experienced. It was an incredible game.”

 Only 91 players before him, out of more than 900 that have represented Italy, scored on their National Team debuts. The last was Mateo Retegui, who scored in March 2023 against England in Naples. Roberto Mancini was the coach then. But Kayode needed far less than the 56 minutes it took the Argentina-born striker to score, and his goal carries extra weight given his position as a defender.

Against Turkey, though, Kayode often looked like an additional forward, repeatedly charging into the attack and nearly scoring again in the 72nd minute after a spectacular coast-to-coast run. His qualities are obvious, as he has the ability to launch the ball 40 yards with his hands — “I tried, but the rain wasn’t helping much” — along with his refusal to give up.

 That is a lesson he learned the hard way.

Born in Borgomanero, Piedmont, to Nigerian parents, Kayode came through Juventus’ youth academy. In 2018, at 14, after six seasons with the club, Juventus released him without much hesitation. It happens in soccer, but Kayode had the strength not to let it break him. He returned to his hometown area to play for Gozzano and, in 2020-21, found himself in Serie D, Italy’s fourth tier, where he caught Fiorentina’s attention.

The Florence club signed him for its youth team, eventually giving him his Serie A debut in August 2023. He scored his first top-flight goal in February 2024. He seemed destined for bigger things, but under Palladino he saw little playing time, and in the final days of the January 2025 transfer window he was sold to English club Brentford.

New team, new life. Kayode quickly adapted to the Premier League and emerged as one of its most intriguing young players.

 He grew up idolizing Paolo Maldini and reached the National Team after a recommendation from Alberto Bollini — not only the Italy Under-19 coach who gave Kayode his debut, but now one of Mancini’s assistants. So Kayode’s first Italy goal is partly dedicated to him, but even more so to little Amelie, whom he and Eleonora welcomed last August.

 They staged the gender reveal at Brentford’s stadium, sending pink balloons flying with one of Kayode’s trademark “catapults.”

 That, too, was part of how he turned his fortunes around — and quickly made himself at home in Italy.