Andrea Ritorni says Michael Kayode did not feel trusted before leaving Fiorentina, with the defender now established at Brentford and breaking into Italy's senior side.
Michael Kayode "didn't feel the trust" at Fiorentina before leaving for Brentford, according to the scout who discovered him.
Andrea Ritorni of Vigo Global Sport discussed the defender with FiorentinaNews after Kayode scored on his senior Italy debut against Turkey. Ritorni has followed his career from an early age and believes Fiorentina's circumstances made a move elsewhere understandable.
"Kayode left Florence with great gratitude, but he went to a stronger league which suits his characteristics better than the Italian one, because it is physical, but also because of the football culture," Ritorni said.
"The departure from Fiorentina? He didn't feel the trust, he wasn't being used.
"It's right that someone with his qualities and his age goes elsewhere. Why he was sold is a question for Fiorentina. An offer arrived... and it was accepted."
Kayode had already played 49 times for Fiorentina's first team by the time Brentford moved for him in January 2025. He arrived in West London on loan for the remainder of the season, with the Bees holding an option to make the transfer permanent.
There was no immediate run of starts. Kayode made his first six Brentford appearances from the bench before coming into the starting XI against Brighton in April, and he stayed there for the final six games of the campaign. When the Bees made the deal permanent in May, Phil Giles described it as an "easy decision".
Ritorni has watched that progression from Italy.
"At first he was on the bench at Brentford, then he carved out his role, followed his path and became a starter," he said. "He still needs to improve in some areas, but he knows that."
Kayode remained a regular throughout last season and missed only one Premier League game. By July, Brentford had extended his contract again, this time until 2032 with an option for another year.
Keith Andrews said when the deal was announced that Kayode's "development and evolution" had been "really, really impressive". Kayode's own assessment was simpler. He said Brentford felt "like a family" and spoke about how much he had improved since arriving in England.
The latest step in his development has come away from club football.
The defender received his first senior Italy call-up for the current international break and started Monday's Nations League game in Turkey. His first appearance brought rather more than just a debut.
The Brentford right-back forced a save in the move which ended with Davide Frattesi scoring Italy's second goal, then found the net himself five minutes later. Italy were 3-0 ahead inside half an hour and eventually won 4-1.
Ritorni expected Kayode to handle the step up, although not necessarily to make quite such an immediate impact.
"For him to be involved in a goal, score one and produce such a devastating performance, maybe I didn't expect that, but I knew he could do well," he said.
"He is a rare player to find. In more than 30 years I've had satisfactions, but this is a really big one. He has always remained the same throughout his development, he has never changed."
Kayode's move to Brentford came after his opportunities at Fiorentina had reduced, but Ritorni was careful not to speak on the Italian club's behalf when it came to why the transfer was sanctioned. His point was instead about the situation Kayode found himself in before the move and the opportunity that followed in England.
Eighteen months later, the Bees have committed to him twice on permanent contracts, and Kayode has now made the step into senior international football. Italy still have two Nations League fixtures remaining before he returns to West London, with France next on Friday and another game against Turkey on Monday.
