Super Eagles and Besiktas midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, has revealed the difference between the English Premier League and the Turkish Super Lig, Footynaija.com reports.
Before joining Besiktas, Ndidi was on the books at Leicester City for nine long years and during that time, the Foxes spent eight seasons playing in the Premier League. He racked up a total number of 303 appearances and played a significant role in Leicester’s FA Cup triumph back in 2021.
Now flying the colours of Black Eagles, the Nigeria international has wasted little time in establishing himself as a key player for the Istanbul based club, making the starting XI in 18 of his 19 appearances across all competitions.
Having tasted the game in both England and Turkey, Ndidi took out time to explain the difference between the top flight leagues of both countries in a recent interview with Punch.
“The EPL is very fast and physically demanding; you are punished for small mistakes,” the 28-year-old midfielder said.
“The Super Lig has great technical quality, creative attackers, and tactical variety—teams can change shapes and styles within a game. Both are challenging in different ways. What’s common is the need for consistency, concentration, and humility.”
Ndidi also highlighted how moving to Turkish Super Lig has helped to elevate certain aspects of his game, both tactically and in terms of providing leadership on the pitch.
“My positional awareness, pressing timing, and distribution under pressure. I’ve worked on switching play quicker and playing those forward passes between lines. Also, leadership. Communicating more, helping organise, and keeping the team calm in difficult moments.”
Despite rumours of a potential return to England during the winter transfer window, Ndidi stayed put at Besiktas. The Black Eagles are currently 5th on the Super Lig table and Ndidi will be looking to help them finish the season strongly enough to clinch one of the three available European spots.
