Beşiktaş head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hailed Wilfred Ndidi’s contribution after the Nigerian midfielder took part in Thursday’s 1-1 UEFA Conference League play-off opener against Lausanne-Sport.
Ndidi, who arrived in Turkey this transfer window following eight years in England with Leicester City, was involved in midfield as the Black Eagles earned a draw on Swiss soil.
The product of Nath Boys Academy came to Istanbul with a strong pedigree, widely regarded as one of the Premier League’s top ball-winning midfielders.
Solskjaer, who previously managed Manchester United and had competed against Ndidi during that spell, admitted the Nigerian has already made a noticeable impact within his current squad.
“A couple of words about Wilfred, he has answered well for himself,” the Norwegian told reporters after the game. “You can see he is a very professional footballer, a great human being, and he gives us something we haven’t had before.
“I am very pleased to have him here, very pleased to have a leader like him, and I believe he will contribute a lot to the team in the coming months and years.”
Despite being a fitness worry after sustaining an injury in his first appearance, the 27-year-old was trusted from the start, underlining his importance in Solskjaer’s plans as Beşiktaş prepare to secure qualification in the return fixture next week in Istanbul.
