Italy: Buffon Urges Coach Gattuso To Cap In-Form Brentford Star Kayode

Italian football legend Gianluigi Buffon has weighed in on the future of the Azzurri, publicly advising national team coach Gennaro Gattuso to secure the services of Brentford’s rising defensive star, Michael Kayode, for the crucial 2026 World Cup playoff clash against Northern Ireland.

The 20-year-old Kayode has emerged as one of the revelations in the Premier League this season, delivering a series of commanding performances for the Bees. His consistency and maturity at the back have not gone unnoticed, catching the eye of one of the greatest goalkeepers in the history of the sport.

In an interview with Football Italia, Buffon dissected the current pool of Italian talent and made a compelling case for Kayode’s inclusion, suggesting his dynamic displays for the West London club would provide a significant boost to Gattuso’s squad.

While acknowledging other emerging prospects, Buffon specifically highlighted the Brentford man as a standout performer who has adapted seamlessly to the rigours of English football.

“A big surprise has been [Pietro] Palestra; he’s shown something extraordinary,” Buffon told the outlet. “Another one who is doing really well is Kayode. [Giorgio] Vergara, too, definitely catches your attention.”

The former Juventus and Italy icon then turned his attention to the mentality required by Gattuso as he navigates the team through the high-pressure World Cup qualifiers.

Buffon emphasised that age should be no barrier to selection, provided a player demonstrates the requisite quality and fearlessness.

“If there’s something [Gattuso] doesn’t lack, it’s courage,” Buffon stated. “Regardless of age, the national team is for those who deserve it. Of course, you need a certain core group; you get nowhere without one. You have to know how to use young players without burdening them with responsibilities. You must take that fearlessness from young players.”

By name-dropping Kayode in this context, Buffon is effectively endorsing the defender as a player who embodies that very “fearlessness.” The endorsement places significant public pressure on Gattuso to consider injecting the Brentford starlet’s current form and confidence into the Azzurri setup for one of the most important fixtures of the cycle.

With the playoffs looming, the debate over whether youth or experience will guide Italy to the World Cup has just become more intense.