After transfer target Michael Kayode received encouragement to join Arsenal upon leaving his current club Fiorentina, Manchester United will be left feeling let down.
The 19-year-old full-back Kayode attended the Juventus academy for a while before joining Fiorentina in the summer of 2021. After making an impression in the youth ranks, the right-back was promoted to the Italian club’s senior squad over the summer.
Despite the significant improvement in quality, Kayode has shown promise in Serie A. Before being sidelined for several weeks due to injury, he made nine appearances in both the league and the Europa Conference League.
The teenage player, who has gained a spot in the Italy U21 team, may soon play for a Premier League team. After their scouts were apparently “dazzled” in October, Arsenal became the first English club to be linked to him.
However, Manchester United and Manchester City joined Arsenal in their pursuit of Kayode later that month.
There must have been grave concerns at Arsenal that they might lose out to the two Manchester clubs in terms of spending power if they were to acquire the starlet.
However, it’s possible that the Gunners will prevail in the transfer race. When choosing to leave Fiorentina, Antonio Soda—who previously managed Kayode at Gozzano—has suggested that he join Arsenal. Soda added that Kayode is fearless because he doesn’t back down from elite Serie A wingers like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Napoli. When he was sixteen, I saw something significant in him when I played him. I picked him when he was young, but he also developed physically,” he stated in a TV Play appearance (via Sport Witness and Viola News).