‘How much?’ - German-born star shocks Ndidi after Super Eagles midfielder tells him to play for Nigeria

The Super Eagles’ ongoing quest to recruit top European talent faced a fresh, unexpected twist when Wilfred Ndidi’s heartfelt plea to his Besiktas teammate Felix Uduokhai took a cynical turn and quickly went viral.

In a funny video shared on social media ahead of AFCON 2025, Ndidi urged Uduokhai to “represent your country, bro,” encouraging the German-born defender to switch allegiance and play for Nigeria. 

What followed was a surprising moment of laughter and a pointed question from Uduokhai, who was born to a Nigerian father and German mother, making him eligible for both countries.

Ndidi’s invitation, “Come and play for Nigeria, we want a centre back,” was met with Uduokhai’s quick-witted rebuttal, “What are you doing with your phone?” before the defining moment, “How much?”

A shocked Ndidi, who has been backed to captain Nigeria, replied, “What do you mean ‘how much?’” only to be met again with laughter and the blunt statement, “If you want money, just don’t bother.”

The exchange, believed to have happened shortly after Besiktas’ 2-0 victory over Karagumruk, paints a revealing picture of the tension between patriotism and professionalism in international football recruitment.

While Uduokhai was an unused substitute that day, Ndidi delivered a standout performance, leading the match with the most tackles (4), most duels won (7), creating a chance and a key pass, and completing 100% of his long balls

This viral clip has since ignited fierce discussions about what motivates players’ national team allegiances, passion for the homeland or financial incentives?

For Ndidi and the Super Eagles, the challenge remains clear: how to convince talented players like Uduokhai to commit beyond dollars and euros, embracing the pride of representing Nigeria on the biggest stages.