Super Eagles captain, Wilfred Ndidi, has said he is settling into life under new Besiktas head coach, Vincenzo Italiano, revealing that players are not restricted to specific positional roles under the Italian tactician, even as the midfielder continues to be linked with a summer move away from the Turkish club.

Ndidi joined Besiktas from Leicester City last year and quickly established himself as a key figure under former manager Sergen Yalcin but could not help the club to any significant success last season as they finished fourth in the league, a result that led to Yalcin’s exit at the end of the campaign.

Italiano was appointed last month, and Ndidi was among the first players to report for pre-season training, featuring in the club’s opening warm-up fixture on July 5 as the squad began preparations in Slovakia.

Speaking to beIN Sports Turkiye, the 29-year-old explained that the new manager encourages his players to contribute across both ends of the pitch rather than stick rigidly to their assigned positions.

“In the game, it’s not just about being a number eight, because when we defend, I have to help in defence. When we attack, I also have to help the attack,” Ndidi said.

“He made us understand that we have the freedom to go into the box. It is going well. With time, as I said before, we are going to adapt. With time, we are going to understand more of what he wants, and what he wants is very clear.”

Ndidi has attracted interest from several clubs abroad this summer, with Premier League sides Hull City and Manchester United, along with clubs in Saudi Arabia, all monitoring his situation. Besiktas are said to be willing to sanction his departure only for a fee in the region of €8m, the amount they paid to sign him from Leicester City.

Despite the speculation, the Nigerian captain, who remains under contract with Besiktas until 2028, is expected to continue playing a key role for the club going into the new season, with his suitors likely to have to wait until January or next summer to test their resolve further.