Legendary Dutch football tactician Aad de Mos is unimpressed by the signing of Calvin Bassey by Ajax Amsterdam in the summer transfer window, saying the Nigeria international does not have the attributes of an Ajax Amsterdam-type player.
The former Ajax coach questioned Ajax’s decision to sign Bassey from Rangers last summer despite the 23-year-old being one of the best performers for the Gers last season.
The Nigeria international switched to the Dutch Eredivisie champions in July 2022, with Rangers pocketing a guaranteed fee of 23 million euros which could rise to 26.5 million euros with variables included – the largest transfer in their history.
However, Aad de Mos believed Bassey, who was brought in to fill the void left by Lisandro Martinez, who left for Manchester United, has not justified the transfer fee Ajax paid for his services and has criticized the central defender for his performances.
“Bassey is not an Ajax player for me. And I can’t imagine anyway why you would bring a player from the Scottish league to Ajax,” Aad de Mos said on the Good morning Eredivisie program, via Football transfers. “He has no speed of action, no insight. And before he has turned, a day has passed. There is no feeling in him.”
Rangers made an astronomical profit on Bassey who was signed from Leicester City for a fee of 230,000 pounds in the summer of 2020.
Despite Aad de Mos criticism, statistically, Bassey has not done badly as an Ajax player, with five goal involvements in fifteen appearances across all competitions. He also has averaged a rating of 7.28 and 6.8 in the Eredivisie and Champions League this season, better than any Ajax defender.