Italy Below-21 worldwide Michael Kayode thinks he has cracked why English soccer strikes at a better tempo after shifting to Brentford and has no regrets. ‘The coaching is far harder in Italy.’
EMPOLI, ITALY – MARCH 26: of U21 celebrates after scoring the crew’s third aim with Michael Kayode and Luca Kaleosho in the course of the UEFA Below 21 EURO Qualifier match between Italy U21 and North Macedonia U21 at Stadio Carlo Castellani on March 26, 2026 in Empoli, Italy. (Picture by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Pictures)
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The 21-year-old got here up by means of the youth academies at Juventus and earlier than incomes his €18m transfer to Brentford and the Premier League in January 2025.
He made 41 appearances for the Bees to date this season, contributing one aim and two assists from right-back, and is a daily for Italy at Below-21 degree.
Kayode having fun with life at Brentford
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – JANUARY 04: Michael Kayode of Brentford in the course of the Premier League match between and Brentford at Hill Dickinson Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Picture by Alex Livesey/Getty Pictures)
How has he handled the variations between Italian and English soccer?
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“The coaching is far harder in Italy, and also you get far fewer days off,”
“Right here you prepare 4-5 occasions per week, then you definitely relaxation much more. Maybe this is the reason individuals suppose English soccer has a better tempo, since you solely prepare as a lot as you want to, then really feel contemporary each bodily and mentally when you play the sport.
“It offers you extra time to spend together with your family members. Moreover, the coaching periods are virtually all 11 in opposition to 11, we hardly ever spend that a lot time specializing in ways. It’s about taking males on.”
Kayode seemed again on his profession path and a transfer which may’ve been devastating to a younger participant, when he went on mortgage to Gozzano and
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“I might sound loopy, however I don’t remorse it in any respect, as a result of the actual fact Juve dumped me did give me the power to achieve this degree. We had been round 60 youngsters in that group and solely 2-3 now play at skilled degree. Gozzano gave me the prospect at age 16 to play in opposition to older opponents, Serie D could be very completely different to a youth crew.
“I beloved being at Fiorentina, was a terrific coach, each tactically and as an individual. Vincenzo Italiano known as me into the senior squad and his mentality is unimaginable, he all the time desires you targeted.
“Sooner or later, he began me in opposition to , I didn’t suppose it was doable! I actually didn’t anticipate that in any respect. I owe him a lot, he needed me to all the time have the starvation to maintain bettering.”