A list showing the top 10 most valuable defensive midfielders in the world has sparked a debate among football fans on Twitter.
The list credited to Transfermarkt rates Nigeria internationalย Wilfred Ndidi as the 10th most valuable defensive midfielder in the world.
The Super Eagles star who has been superb for his Premier League side Leicester City since he arrived in January 2017 has been named EPL best tackler for the last two seasons – beating Everton and Senegal star Idrissa Gueye to the record on both occasions.
The 23-year-old’s stock rose shortly after moving to England and he has been linked with a move to join Liverpool and a few other top clubs in Europe.
His move to the Premier League three years back cost Leicester City about โฌ17 million from Belgian side Genk.
Ndidi valued at โฌ45 million trails other stars like Jorginho, Gueye on the list.
However, Manchester City’s Rodri is ranked the most valuable defensive midfielder valued at โฌ80 million. Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich shares the same value (โฌ80m) with Rodri but sits second on the chart of the most valuable defensive midfielders in the world.
Liverpool’s Fabinho, Real Madrid’s Casemiro and Chelsea superstar Jorginho complete the top five best midfielders in the world.
Below are the list of players on the chart
- Rodri (Manchester City) โฌ80 million
- Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich) โฌ80 million
- Fabinho (Liverpool) โฌ70 million
- Casemiro (Real Madrid) โฌ70 million
- Jorginho (Chelsea FC) โฌ65 million
- Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan) โฌ60 million
- Declan Rice (West Ham United) โฌ55 million
- Rueben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers) โฌ50 million
- Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid) โฌ50 million
- Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City) โฌ45 million.
However, some Nigerian football fans on social media have condemned the list, saying it does not do justice to Ndidi’s superb performance since joining Leicester City.
Some claimed the Super Eagles star is more talented than most of the players ahead of him on the list.
While disagreeing with the rating of West Ham’s Declan Rice at number seven ahead of Ndidi, they are also poking fun at the rating, describing it as a joke.
The football fans are whimsically insinuating that the closure of the Nigerian borders against the importation of rice which has led to the increase in the price of the commodity may have been responsible for the rating of Declan Rice ahead of Ndidi, and of course, they are putting the blame on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.)
See some of the reactions:
See what Buhari has caused
Because of his stupid Economy decisions, Rice is more valuable than Ndidi
Common Rice oh
Rice that Ndidi thrump in all departments https://t.co/3TDSxrQMPt
โ Your Favorite Aboki (@Iyam_ILLICIT) January 27, 2020
Ndidi is only two years older than Rice; both players’ contract will expire same day. Ndidi has at least 20 more international caps (World Cup app too). Ndidi also beats Rice on every #PL stat even with both making their debut same season.
Rice โฌ55m, Ndidi โฌ45m.
How? ??โโ https://t.co/cTkkwgxkEY
โ Ayodeji Ayodeji (@AyodejiX2) January 27, 2020
I understand how Rice can be more valuable than Ndidi. Since Buhari closed border, rice has actually become valuable. Rubbish pic.twitter.com/hbFLrRYH50
โ UNCLE AHLI (@uncle_ahli) January 27, 2020
But hope you understand that most valuable is different from most talented and most effective player… Ndidi is rated at 45m doesn’t mean he is the least talented here… After all some people bought a jug head for 80m and he is clearly below most who are cheaper than him
โ OneKYNguY?โ? (@Chiedochie_) January 27, 2020
Maybe itโs because we in buhariโs regime thatโs why rice is more valuable and costs more than ndidi. https://t.co/vmD63XbrzZ
โ SWAY (@kingparpae) January 27, 2020
I adore Ndidi, but if he adds passing, assists and shots-on-target to his game, he’d be worth over 150M https://t.co/5R8TDFHPas
โ Uduak Umo (@UdyUmo) January 27, 2020
Declan Rice is actually a fantastic player by all standards. If he’s better than Wilfred Ndidi (@Ndidi25) is a debate I can’t get into right now.
โ SnailMan (@laurentdarl) January 27, 2020
This is a dent on Ndidi and his legacy, heโs better than everybody is this list. Everybody! We all watch this game, African footballers are always underrated. โฆ@Ndidi25โฉ pic.twitter.com/AGExG5GtKB
โ Mike Emenike (@mik3buddy) January 27, 2020
Yah all acting weird coz they said Rice is more expensive than Ndidi, shey for ur area rice no cost ?
โ OMOTAYO Of Lagos ?? (@Tee_Classiquem1) January 27, 2020
Buhari see what you’ve caused even Rice is more expensive than Ndidi ?.
Who ever compile this list must be joking Fabinho should be No 1 followed by Ndidi pic.twitter.com/DbxqJdyeK4โ V A R ? (@Boluwatifepays) January 27, 2020
Nigeria’s Inflation has made rice more expensive than Ndidi https://t.co/OjrOCIyWPY
โ Mr. Alabi of Lagos (@the_Lawrenz) January 27, 2020
In this Buhari economy, you need to have Ndidi to be able to afford Rice.
The borders aren’t closed for nothing. pic.twitter.com/FlR5T8pD6H
โ Uburu Salt?? (@Hiykes77) January 27, 2020
I understand how Rice can be more valuable than Ndidi. Since Buhari closed border, rice has actually become valuable. Rubbish pic.twitter.com/hbFLrRYH50
โ UNCLE AHLI (@uncle_ahli) January 27, 2020
Ndidi is better than all those players there https://t.co/SqjanNDHup
โ ZIK (@Zik33088630) January 27, 2020
