Michael Kayode interview in Aston Villa programme | OneFootball

An interview with Michael Kayode is The Long Read in the matchday programme for Saturday's Premier League game against Aston Villa at Gtech Community Stadium.

The Brentford full-back, who joined the Bees on loan from Fiorentina in January with a club option to make the deal permanent in the summer, discusses his life mantra and the lessons he has learned from a young yet eventful career so far.

Away from club football, which has taken the 20-year-old from Juventus to west London via a stint in Serie D with Gozzano, he has represented Italy's youth teams internationally and scored the winning goal in the UEFA European Under-19 Championship final against Portugal in July 2023.

“It was the best experience of my life,” he beams.

“It’s a fantastic feeling because you feel like the whole country is behind you. You feel responsible and in charge of the destiny of the country.

“It’s not easy to carry the expectation of the whole country on your shoulders but you know that you are representing the country which makes it easier.

“It’s a great honour, but it’s not easy, especially for a country like Italy.

“I’ve obviously experienced amazing emotions and feelings with the U19s.

“I cannot even imagine what it would mean to win something with the senior national team. It’s something I’m hoping and aiming for.”

Read the full interview in Saturday's programme, which is available to buy around the Gtech before the Aston Villa game, or online at shop.brentfordfc.com.

ICYMI: Buzz Bee has been taken by the Beekeeper - but who's under the mask? It's your job, along with the Brentford squad, to follow the clues across the Bees' 2024/25 programme covers to try and find out.

On each programme cover, members of the squad will be following riddles across west London, which will eventually lead them to the club's mascot - and the identity of the Beekeeper - on the final day of the season.

Clues and hints - big and small - will be scattered across each programme cover for you, the supporters, to work out who has snatched Buzz.

And, if you do, you could be in with a chance of winning a shirt signed by the Brentford first-team squad. So make sure to buy a copy, keep your eyes peeled, and study every last corner of the cover!

Submit your answers on X with the hashtag #WhoTookBuzz, along with the name of your suspect. All correct answers will be put in a draw at the end of the campaign, with the winner securing the prize.

Programmes will be available inside and outside the ground - as well as from the Bees Merchandise Kiosk and the Bees Superstore - our sellers will be accepting contactless payments only.

Programmes can also be delivered directly to your door with a season-long subscription, which can be purchased for £120.

The subscription includes all 19 of the Bees' Premier League home games, as well as any cup games for the first team at Gtech Community Stadium this season.

Programmes will be sent via first class the day before each fixture. Please expect 3-5 working days to receive your order. This is UK delivery only.

Individual issues will be available in-store and online for those needing to fill any gaps in their collection.

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