Brentford signed Michael Kayode initially on loan from Fiorentina in January.
The defender faced injury worries in London at the start, but the move was made permanent by the Bees. Fiorentina earned €17m from the youngster’s sale. In the process, they lost a real talent.
This is now paying off for Brentford. Kayode is arguably one of best players this season for Keith Andrews’ side. He has developed a reputation of a useful long-throw and offers pace and power on the right.
Despite Fiorentina’s struggles, there’s an insistence La Viola don’t regret Kayode’s sale.
Former manager Gianni De Biasi spoke to FirenzeViola about the Italian. He made it clear that the offer from Brentford was too good for Fiorentina.
He said, relayed by LabaroViola: “We have to remember that during the planning phase, we focus more on certainties [guarantees].”
De Biasi believes that Kayode’s sale was perhaps well planned by those at the club.
“So I think the fans may regret it, but at the time, the offer was right and was accepted. I think there are capable people working within Fiorentina, but I believe that in the end, the true values will emerge. I think we need to rediscover enthusiasm and confidence.”
They find themselves 18th in the table. They are also yet to win a league game. That’s pretty embarrassing for a club of La Viola’s stature.
More than that, Tariq Lamptey was roped in to replace Kayode. The Ghanaian has picked up a serious knee injury. He is expected to return in the middle of next year.
During his time at Fiorentina, Kayode impressed in the 2023/24 season. He became a regular at the back, playing 26 times in Serie A.