Michael Kayode – Fiorentina’s Teenage Jewel and Italy Euro U19 Hero Shines for Italiano’s Viola by David Bendlin

Jacek Kulig

Michael Kayode – Fiorentina’s Teenage Jewel and Italy Euro U19 Hero Shines for Italiano’s Viola by David Bendlin

Player Profile:

Michael Kayode was born in Borgomanero, Italy and is of Nigerian descent. 

As of January 2024, the 19-year-old Kayode has played 11 matches and 915 minutes for Vincenzo  Italiano’s Fiorentina side. 

Kayode developed as a Juventus youth product for seven years before a loan move to Gozzano. In 2021,  he moved to the Fiorentina U19s and the Italy U18s. 

Kayode scored the 19’ game-winner for Italy in the U19 Euro Championship final and was named Man of  the Match. 

Italian national team manager Luciano Spalletti recently commented on Kayode’s rise: “Players like  Kayode, Ranieri, Koleosho and Casadei have emerged. We’ve been monitoring them for a while.” 

In October 2023, Michael debuted for the Italy U21 in the Euro U21 qualifiers.

23/24 Serie A Season (as of 1/11/24):

12 Matches 

1004 Minutes 

2 Assists 

Full Name: Michael Olabode Kayode 

Country: Italy 

Date of Birth: July 10, 2004 

Height: 179cm 

Youth Career: Juventus, Gozzano 

Current Club: ACF Fiorentina 

National Team: Italy U21 

Position: RB, RWB, LB 

Preferred Foot: Right 

Market Value: €12m (Transfermarkt) 

Similar Type of Player: Destiny Udogie, Denzel Dumfries, Wilfried Singo

Strengths:

Interceptions 

Long Throw 

Aerial Duels 

Power Header 

Movement 

Strength 

Athleticism 

Ball-Carrying 

Energy 

Stamina 

First Touch 

1v1 Skills 

Medium Range Passing 

Needs Improvement:

Awareness in Defensive 1/3 

Out of Possession Positioning 

Anticipation 

https://twitter.com/ACFFiorentinaEN/status/1717188541745160385

Style of Play: 

Influences play on the flanks with his physicality and athleticism. Has an athletic build, plus upper-body  strength, and a wide frame with broad shoulders. Uses strength to be physical with opposing wingers.  Plays right back in Italiano’s 4-2-3-1. Deploys as RB, RWB, and LB for Italy U19/U21s. 

Has ability to intercept and shows bravery to step out and defend 1v1 in opposing half. Shows courage  to press opposition fullbacks in opposing half. Willing to close-down attacking threats in the open field.  Displays top-end speed in recovery runs and covers ground with long strides. Energetic and recovers  well after joining the attack. 

Versatility leads to a dynamic right side in the Viola’s 4-2-3-1. Shows willingness to join the attack and  provide verticality and width. Trusted by Italiano and Bollini to take risks high up the pitch. Shows  flexibility in entering attacking 1/3 with inverted and overlapping runs. Has ability to cut-in towards top  of 18 and comfortably use his left foot in addition to providing service from wide where he displays a  strong mix/combination of early, square, and cut-back passes. Tends to exchange freely with wingers (Ikone) and midfielders (Arthur) which provides tactical flexibility for his side. Athletic in the air, capable  of leaping above defenders, power header finish. Able to manipulate his body midair (bicycle kick goal  on resume) and proves dangerous on set pieces.

Kayode’s heatmap by Wyscout

In possession, shows technical 1v1 dribble skills, rolls the ball to change angles and uses stepovers to  create space from defenders. Tends to escape from pressure with outside of boot turns and rapid  acceleration/deceleration.  

https://twitter.com/ACFFiorentinaEN/status/1693529002021966254
https://twitter.com/SerieAScout_/status/1712458751255482420?s=20
https://twitter.com/SerieA_EN/status/1727688455025553880

Video: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy-P4nO2zZk

Achievements: 

UEFA European Under-19 Championship 2023 

Coppa Italia Primavera 2021/22 

Supercoppa Italiana Primavera 2021/22, 2022/23

2023/2024 Stats (as of 1/11/24):

Fiorentina 23/24 Serie A – 12 matches, 915’, 2 assists 

Fiorentina 23/24 Conference League – 5 matches, 322’, 1 assist 

Fiorentina 23/24 Italy Cup – 1 match, 120’ 

Standout Moment: 

Scored 19’ game-winner for Italy in U19 Euro Finals [Man of the Match] 

https://twitter.com/FootballReprt/status/1680659570098683904

Thoughts on Player:

Kayode is a fast riser. Shows confidence to emerge and establish his role after Dodo injury in the  Fiorentina squad. Debuted in Serie A on August 19 vs. Genoa. As of 1/4/24, has been in the first-team  for 14 matches, started 9 and as a sub in 2. After returning from a sprain in late November, he entered  as a sub vs. Genk in the UECL and has started the next 7 games across all competitions (5-0-2). As of  early January, Fiorentina currently sits in 4th in Serie A and as they look to secure Champions League  qualification. Fiorentina was the Serie A team with most clean sheets in December (4). 

Italiano trusts him despite youth, encourages him to push forward and join attack. Versatility provides  managers tactical flexibility, often see him interchanging with wingers/midfielders at Fiorentina, saw  him used as a wing-back to provide width/extra man going forward with Italy U19s under Bollini at  Euros.  

In Italy U21s, in competition with FC St. Gallen’s Zanotti, Nunziata gave him his debut vs. Norway in  qualifiers. 

Shows understanding of the moment and arrives in clutch moment as evident in the U19 Euro Finals  game-winner. 

Potential to be a complete fullback/wingback. Has ball skills to maintain possession, complete passes,  and take-on players 1v1 while being athletic and strong enough to recover well and use his physicality to  win duels with opposing wingers and arriving midfielders. 

Stats at a Glance (fbref):

– Progressive Carries Per 90 – 1.98 (Compared to Di Lorenzo at 2.28, Porro 1.32, Ben White 1.16,  Calabria 1.15, Darmian 0.53) 

– Medium Range Passing % (15-30y) – 86.8 (Compared to Gusto at 85.8, Udogie 84.7, Cash, 81.2,  A. Robinson 81, Alexander-Arnold 78.6)

– Tackles in Attacking 1/3 Per 90 – 0.50 (Compared to Porro at 0.47, Udogie 0.45, A.Robinson  0.33, Calabria 0.23, Darmian 0.20) 

– Challenges Lost Per 90 – 0.59 (Compared to Alexander-Arnold at 2.47, Porro 2.00, Darmian,  1.33, A. Robinson 1.30, Di Lorenzo 1.17) 

– Successful Take-On % – 55.6 (Compared to Alexander-Arnold at 55.0, Calabria 50.0, Porro 48.5,  A. Robinson 46.8, Gusto 42.1) 

– Blocks per 90 – 1.39 (Comparted to Porro at 2.26, A. Robinson 1.47, Gusto 1.35, Di Lorenzo 1.22,  Ben White 1.22) 

Links:

Transfermarkt

FBref

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