Former Super Eagles skipper, Sunday Oliseh has said Wilfred Ndidi would have been playing for Real Madrid or another bigger club but for the fact Nigeria has struggled at major tournaments.
Oliseh also urged Odion Ighalo to stay put at Manchester United despite a tempting offer from his Chinese club.
Ndidi has continued to shine at Premier League club Leicester City, but Oliseh said the defensive midfielder has been held back from playing for a top club like Real Madrid by the Eagles recent record.
“Ndidi ought to be playing for a top club like Real Madrid, but that’s not so because Nigeria have not done well in major competitions lately,” former Juventus star, Oliseh said in a radio interview monitored yesterday in Abuja.
“You would need to justify the transfer of a player before the board of directors, so how do you defend the choice of Ndidi?”
However, the former Eagles captain is hopeful that Ndidi could still make a big transfer should Leicester City qualify for UEFA Champions League next season.
“If Leicester City can play Champions League football next season, that will be great for Ndidi,” he said.
On Ighalo, Oliseh said he expects on-loan player to join Manchester United permanently rather than take up an offer of 400,000 pounds a week offer from his Chinese club Shanghai Shensua.
“Manchester United are one of the biggest clubs in the world and Ighalo must do everything to stay at the club,” Oliseh said.
“It would be better to be remembered as an ex-Manchester United player than an ex-Watford player.
“Joining United is the greatest thing to happen in his life and it will help his profile even after he is no longer playing.” Oliseh explained.
