How I got my breakthrough in football – Wilfred Ndidi

Leicester City and Nigeria midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, has recounted the moment that paved the way for a career in football for him.

The Super Eagles star completed a £17 million move from Genk to Leicester City in January and has gone on to put up some fine displays in England.

However, Ndidi says he could have easily been doing something else, after his father insisted he faced his books.

He also revealed that he was the only one of 500 boys to be invited for a trial at Genk, which sent scouts to watch a Nigerian football tournament.

“I didn’t score [to impress Genk], I was actually playing in central defence,” Ndidi told Goal.

“I was told not to play long balls, so I just made a one-two and another one-two and then I gave a pass, made an assist.

“It was important because we were an academy, we played a team from the Nigerian Premier League [and we were only an academy], 3SC Shooting Stars, who were winning 1-0. I gave that pass and it made it 1-1.

“I was the only one selected out of 40 teams, 500 players. I had to go and do trials in Genk after that. Then I did the trials in Genk, After a year, they gave me a contract.

“It was difficult [coming to Europe] but I stayed with a family who tried to make me feel like I was at home. It was the time of the trial. So when I came home every day I felt like part of the family, it felt like home and made it easier.”