Kayode is ready for the Premier League, says Fiorentina journalist | OneFootball

Fiorentina journalist Lorenzo Lepore has revealed why he believes that new Brentford signing Michael Kayode is "ready for the Premier League" after his move to west London.

Brentford head coach Thomas Frank recently said that Kayode is "very talented and a fantastic physical package", which is echoed by Lorenzo, who is confident that the right-back will excel for the Bees and go on to be an Italy international.

Kayode has been at Fiorentina since 2021, but last season was his first in the first team. How would you summarise his performances in 2023/24?

Kayode had already shown promising qualities during his time in Fiorentina's youth academy but, last year, after finding space in the first team, he delivered excellent performances that earned him the Italian Golden Boy award.

Crucial to his development was coach Vincenzo Italiano, who trusted him from the very first matchday, where Kayode made his debut with an outstanding performance.

Did you expect Premier League clubs would be interested in signing him this season?

For a player with his characteristics, the interest of a Premier League club was predictable. A player of his calibre, especially in the position he plays, is unlikely to transfer to another team in Serie A unless it is a top club.

The English league seems to be the perfect context for him and his abilities.

What are his strengths as a player?

He possesses top-tier athletic qualities: he is explosive, excellent in body positioning, and extremely difficult to beat one-on-one.

Under Vincenzo Italiano, he was one of the toughest defenders to dribble past in Serie A, and his speed allowed him to recover quickly when he was beaten.

His technical skills still need development, but Brentford seems like the ideal environment to work on this aspect. Tactically, I think he is ready for the Premier League. He excels at deep defensive diagonals but could refine his marking inside the penalty area.

Does he prefer to play as a right-back or right-wing-back?

He mostly played as a right-back in a four-man defence under Italiano, where he performed exceptionally. During his time in the Primavera squad [Fiorentina's youth team], coached by Alberto Aquilani, he instead played as a right-wing-back in a five-man midfield, a role in which he also did very well.

He is, therefore, a versatile player, capable of performing effectively in both positions.

How have fans reacted to the news of his departure?

Despite not finding much space this year under Raffaele Palladino, his departure has disappointed many Fiorentina fans. After his excellent performances last season, many were attached to him, especially because of his connection to the youth academy.

The general sentiment towards the club for this move is rather negative.

Brentford’s recruitment policy is as much about the talent and potential of a player as it is their character. What have you found Kayode to be like in that respect?

He is a hard worker and a player who loves sacrificing himself for the team. He has always had a great relationship with his team-mates, proving to be a perfect asset in terms of character and attitude.

Do you think he could he play for the senior Italy team in the future?

I believe he still has a lot of room to grow and can certainly reach the level required to play for the Italian national team. He is undoubtedly one of the best prospects for his role in our national squad.