Brentford defender Michael Kayode marked his senior Italy debut with a goal as the Azzurri defeated Turkey 4-1 in the UEFA Nations League in Bursa on Monday.
The 22-year-old right-back had previously turned down an approach from Nigeria to represent Italy.
Italy took control early, scoring three goals inside the opening 30 minutes.
Alessandro Bastoni headed in the opener from a corner before Davide Frattesi added a second from a rebound off a Kayode shot.
Kayode made it 3-0 in the 27th minute, left unmarked in the penalty area after a setup by Francesco Pio Esposito.
Baris Alper Yilmaz scored Turkey's only goal after a second-half miscommunication in the Italian defense.
Italy rotate squad after Belgium defeat
Italy made eight changes to its starting lineup following a 2-0 defeat against Belgium on Friday.
The win positioned Italy to move into second place in their Nations League group, depending on other results.
Kayode had already won the 2023 UEFA European U-19 Championship with Italy, scoring the winning goal against Portugal.
He confirmed he committed his international future to Italy despite interest from abroad.
"It was a very easy decision. I went through all the youth teams here.
Nigeria approached me, but I never thought about changing national teams," Kayode said, as reported by Football Italia.
The defender also showed his long throw-in ability during the match despite difficult weather at the stadium.
"I didn't expect my debut to go like this, so I am really happy," Kayode said, as reported by RAI Sport.
He noted the squad adapted to heavy rain and muddy conditions while carrying out tactical maneuvers prepared in team sessions.
"We played in the first half with a fantastic simplicity and determination.
We wanted to really prove ourselves, in a difficult match in an incredible stadium atmosphere, so winning here was fantastic," Kayode said, as reported by RAI Sport.
The performance capped a significant transition for Kayode after his move to Brentford from Fiorentina in January 2025.
"We wanted to prove something and start the charge. Now we will face France," Kayode said, as reported by RAI Sport.
Italy next turns its attention to its upcoming UEFA Nations League fixture against France.
