Wilfred Ndidi: How Italiano’s decision could affect star’s Beşiktaş future

Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi played 89 minutes for Besiktas in their 3-2 Europa League win over TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at the SNP Arena in Germany.

It was the 29-year-old’s first time playing more than 60 minutes in almost two months, as he’s completed just one game under new coach Vincenzo Italiano.

However, Italiano’s explanation for selecting the midfielder suggests that the decision was partly about managing the squad rather than a major change in his plans.

Italiano’s comments offer Ndidi an opportunity, not a guarantee

Speaking before the Hoffenheim match, Italiano explained that Ndidi’s inclusion was not prompted by a technical or tactical adjustment.

“This isn’t a technical or tactical issue. We need to involve Ndidi as well; he deserves playing time. That’s why I gave him playing time,” Italiano said in quotes revealed by by Turkish outlet A Spor.

The Beşiktaş coach also pointed to the workload of former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Salih Özcan, who has been preferred to Wilfred Ndidi this season.

“Salih has also played a lot of matches this season, and we have many more matches ahead,” Italiano explained.

“That’s why I gave Ndidi a chance. Ndidi is a high-level, good player. He needs playing time today. I think he will do well.”

The comments are encouraging for Ndidi because they show that Italiano recognises his quality and believes he deserves opportunities. However, they also suggest that the coach was considering the demands of the schedule when making his selection.

The Hoffenheim victory gives Ndidi something to build on

Beşiktaş’ 3–2 win in Germany provided a positive backdrop to Ndidi’s return to the starting lineup.

The visitors took the lead through Amir Murillo in the 60th minute, but Hoffenheim responded through Fisnik Asllani. Hyeongyu Oh then scored twice in quick succession to put Beşiktaş 3–1 ahead before Koki Machida reduced the deficit late in the match.

The result gave Beşiktaş a second victory from their opening two Europa League league-phase fixtures.

Ndidi had a decent outing at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena too, completing all of his attempted dribbles, alongside several defensive attributes, although he committed three fouls.

For the former Leicester City midfielder, playing the majority of a European away match was an important opportunity to build rhythm after a campaign in which his minutes had been limited.

His role as an experienced defensive midfielder can be valuable in games that demand discipline, strength and the ability to protect the defence during transitions. Those qualities could help him compete for a regular place, especially as Beşiktaş balance their domestic campaign with European football.

Still, the team victory should not be interpreted as proof that Ndidi has sealed a place in the starting XI.

Wilfred Ndidi’s biggest challenge

Ndidi has started just one Super Lig game this season, coming off the bench in five more to accrue a total of 162 minutes.

That pattern suggests that the Super Eagles captain is not an automatic starter under Italiano.

The coach’s comments about Salih Özcan’s workload also show that Beşiktaş have several midfielders to manage. Ndidi’s task is not to prove that he remains a high-level player; he must demonstrate that his qualities make him the right choice for the role Italiano wants to fill.

A busy schedule as the season unfolds could create further opportunities for rotation, but Ndidi will need to make those opportunities count.

What does this mean for Ndidi’s Beşiktaş future?

Ndidi’s future at Beşiktaş attracted speculation earlier in the year following Italiano’s appointment and questions about how the Nigerian would fit into the new coach’s plans. Afrik-Foot previously examined those concerns about how Italiano’s appointment could affect Ndidi’s future.

The Hoffenheim selection offers a more encouraging development, particularly because Italiano described Ndidi as a high-level player who deserved playing time.

However, the coach did not promise the midfielder a permanent starting role, and one appearance cannot settle questions about his longer-term position.

The objective is to build on the opportunity and make himself difficult to leave out. Consistent performances, impactful involvement in the team’s build-up and continued defensive reliability would strengthen his case for more starts.

The coming fixtures will provide a clearer indication of whether the Hoffenheim appearance marks a turning point or was primarily a response to the need to manage the squad.