Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi opens up about tough past
By James Lassey
The 20-year-old midfielder describes his first ever taste of Premier League football and the challenges he faced as a child living in Nigeria.
Wilfred Ndidi has become instrumental to the Foxes midfield since his £15 million move from Belgian side Genk in last January’s transfer window He has gone on to feature in all of Leicester’s Premier League games this season.
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However, Ndidi’s football career had not always looked so bright, the dynamic playmaker recalls the moments when he used to play football in a place unrecognisable to the turf of the Kingpower stadium.
"Speaking on LCFC TV, Ndidi said: “When I was growing up, I was playing on the streets, knocking the ball around, not on grass, not even on the sand or clay, I played on the main road.”“I would put two big stones (as goalposts) and we would play against each other. Sometimes you had to be careful because when you fell over, you could get scratched.”"
The midfielder is contracted to the Foxes until 2022 and initially joined the Foxes months after international teammate Ahmed Musa made his arrival.
The transfer marked his first ever move to one of the top five European leagues and a feat he never imagined happening.
He remembers his earliest Premier League moment in a time where the likelihood of him becoming a footballer looked a distant dream.
"He added: “We sometimes would go and pay money to see the Premier League games. I would say I grew up the hard way, in a place where you had to fight for survival, even to eat.”"
The youngster has played an important role for manager Claude Puel and has helped the Frenchman march up the Premier League table The Foxes are on the hunt for European football and they currently sit six points off seventh place Burnley.
If the expectation is to become reality, Puel’s men will have to overcome three of the top seven in their next five games. City face league leaders Manchester City after the international break as well as tough home fixtures against Tottenham and Burnley.
For Ndidi, he will join up with his international teammates as Nigeria prepare for their World Cup Third Qualifying Round fixture against Algeria.
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