Michael Kayode scored on his senior Italy debut in a 4-1 win over Turkey before Roberto Mancini backed the Brentford defender to keep improving in the Premier League.
Roberto Mancini believes another season in the Premier League will help Michael Kayode continue his development after the Brentford defender marked his senior Italy debut with a goal.
Kayode was handed his first senior cap in Italy's 4-1 Nations League win over Turkey on Monday and was one of the younger players Mancini was asked about afterwards. The Italy head coach was questioned over whether Kayode and Pio Esposito could now be viewed as part of the longer-term group he is building.
"Kayode and Esposito are part of the group. They are two young players, they are at the beginning and they have qualities," Mancini said in his post-match press conference.
Kayode had already given Mancini plenty to think about in Bursa. Starting at right-back, his effort was saved by Altay Bayindir before Davide Frattesi converted the rebound for Italy's second goal in the 22nd minute. Five minutes later, Kayode had one of his own after being found by Esposito.
It made him the first defender to score on his senior Italy debut since Gian Marco Ferrari in May 2021. Kayode also went close to a second later in the game and was pushed further forward on the right when Giovanni Di Lorenzo came on during the closing stages.
Mancini's answer after the game went beyond what Kayode had done on his debut. He specifically brought up the 22-year-old's football in England when discussing where his game could go next.
"I think Kayode will improve even more after another year in the Premier League," Mancini said. "They are young players who will certainly have a great future."
Kayode is already approaching two years in West London after initially joining Brentford on loan from Fiorentina in January 2025. The Bees later made his move permanent, then signing another long-term deal in July 2026, which plans to keep him at the club until 2032 with an option for a further year. The Italy international had made 56 appearances for Brentford by the time that contract was announced and had also been nominated for the Premier League Young Player of the Season award for 2025/26.
Kayode started Brentford's opening Premier League game against Tottenham and scored the third goal in a 3-0 win at the Gtech. He kept his place for the draws with Leeds United and Sunderland before Aaron Hickey was preferred at Bournemouth, although Kayode came on for the final 19 minutes.
Keith Andrews brought him straight back into the team against Chelsea. Brentford won that game 3-0 as well, leaving them unbeaten through their opening five league matches and with nine points, their best start to a Premier League season.
Mancini was later asked whether the victory in Turkey could become an important result for a younger Italy side. He resisted comparing it too closely with wins from his first spell in charge, when he felt he had a more experienced group, but did pick out the value of the night for the newer players.
"For the younger players, coming here and winning, where it is not such an easy place to play, is important," Mancini said. "It is important for them to have won here and now we have to continue."
Kayode could get another opportunity quickly. Italy will travel to Paris to face France on Friday before meeting Turkey again in Bologna on October 5. Kayode returns to Club football for the Bees later that week with a visit to Aston Villa to kick off the next run of league fixtures.
