The £15 million ace laughs off claims that he could have joined Celtic because it ‘wasn’t true.’
Despite claims that he was on the radar of Celtic and Premier League team Nottingham Forest, Wilfred Ndidi admits he never planned to leave Leicester City in the summer.
With the rangy Nigeria international seemingly losing the defensive skills that once elevated him to the ranks of English football’s most adept ball-winners, one of the most difficult tasks facing new Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca was to find a solution to a growing problem.
And it appears he has done just that. Having moved Wilfred Ndidi from a ‘number six’ role to a box-to-box ‘number eight’ one, Pep Guardiola’s former assistant has been rewarded for his tactical re-shuffle with some considerably superior performances in a new capacity.
Ndidi’s three goals in eight appearances under Maresca are the most he’s scored since the start of the 2020/21 season.
Wilfred Ndidi has been linked to Celtic and Nottingham Forest.
Meanwhile, despite potentially losing out on a return to the Premier League with Nottingham Forest or Champions League action with Celtic, the £15 million signing from Genk is glad to be widening his footballing horizons under Maresca.
“I’ve been willing to learn more about Maresca’s philosophy and style.” It’s been going swimmingly. “I’m glad I’m here,” Ndidi says on BBC Radio Leicester’s When You’re Smiling podcast.
“There was never a time when I wanted to go. I used to watch the news and just chuckle because it wasn’t true.”
Ndidi could be referring to rumors in the Daily Mail that a reunion with Brendan Rodgers was on the cards at Celtic north of the border. Those speculations were swiftly debunked by Scottish media, with Ndidi also dismissing Fabrizio Romano’s allegations that he was interested in joining Nottingham Forest on deadline day.
Leicester is vying for a place in the Championship table.
“To be honest, no (I didn’t think I would leave),” the 2021 FA Cup winner says. “Because when he (Maresca) came, he tried to explain his philosophy and also the simplicity of the game, and I just feel like it’s something I can actually learn from.”
