Brentford full-back Michael Kayode has been urged to view his goalscoring Italy debut as the start of his international career, rather than its high point, by his agent Giuseppe Pesce.
Kayode scored on his first senior appearance for Italy in Bursa on Monday, with Pesce watching from the stands. The agent said he had to restrain his reaction because Italian supporters were surrounded by police.
“It’s a source of pride to see Michael at this level. I was in Bursa on Monday for his debut and when the goal went in I felt a very strong emotion,” Pesce told Tuttosport, via TuttoMercatoWeb.
“Consider that I even had to hold back my celebration, because we Italians were surrounded by police. So I stayed composed, even if inside I was exploding. It was an incredible debut, worthy of a film plot.”
Pesce believes the first senior cap should provide motivation for Kayode to continue developing, with the defender still having considerable room for improvement.
“The best comes now. Having got to the point of starting for the national team is only a point of departure to keep doing better. Michael still has big margins for improvement,” he said.
The agent also praised the temperament Kayode showed during a difficult final period at Fiorentina, where he was playing little before moving to the Premier League.
“He surprised me with the incredible humility that sets him apart and with knowing how to face every situation with a smile,” Pesce said.
“Even when things weren’t going the best way in his last months in Florence, Michael never got down and carried straight on his own path. The facts proved him right with the move to the Premier League, strongly wanted by everyone and arriving at a difficult moment when he was playing little.”
Kayode has since established himself as a regular for Brentford, who are unbeaten in the early weeks of the season.
His performances have also seen him preferred to Giovanni Di Lorenzo by Italy manager Roberto Mancini.
