Ex-Real Madrid star hits out at Calvin Bassey’s Ajax price

Calvin Bassey's price tag has been criticised by Wesley Sneijder

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Super Eagles and Ajax defender Calvin Bassey

SUPER EAGLES Ex-Real Madrid star hits out at Calvin Bassey’s Ajax price

Joba Ogunwale 17:17 - 07.03.2023

Bassey joined Ajax last summer, but the Dutch champions have been accused of paying over the odds for his services.

Former Real Madrid midfielder Wesley Sneijder has doubled down on his claim that Ajax paid over the odds to sign Super Eagles star Calvin Bassey. 

Bassey joined Ajax from Rangers for a record-breaking fee of €23.00m last summer. It is the most expensive amount Ajax ever paid for a defender. 

Sneijder hits out at Bassey's price tag at Ajax

However, Sneijder has always maintained that Ajax should not have paid the amount for the Nigeria international. 

Calvin Bassey's price tag has been criticised by Wesley Sneijder
Wesley Sneijder is not happy with the amount Ajax paid to sign Calvin Bassey Calvin Bassey's price tag has been criticised by Wesley Sneijder

The ex-Inter Milan has also been critical of Bassey’s performances for Ajax, saying he has not improved the Dutch champions. 

However, while Bassey is finally settling in at Amsterdam, Sneijder insists Bassey is still not worth the record-breaking fee Ajax paid to bring him from Rangers. 

The Champions League winner says for a player who is still developing, Ajax should not have paid the €23.00m Rangers asked for Bassey’s services. 

Wesley Sneijder says Bassey is not worth the amount Ajax paid for him
Calvin Bassey struggled in his first few games for Ajax Wesley Sneijder says Bassey is not worth the amount Ajax paid for him

 "I still think 23 million is too much,"  Sneijder told Veronica Offside, as per, VI. This concerns the question of what is asked of a defender in Amsterdam's service.

Although Sneijder believes Ajax will definitely help Bassey’s development, he is not convinced with his quality as a defender. 

"He plays at Ajax, so he will have to be able to play football," the ex-Galatasaray star added. "He might be fantastic in another league. But he has a hard time when he keeps getting released and he has to play from the back.'

Sneijder praises Bassey for working on his weakness

But while Senijder was critical of Bassey, the former Dutch international praised the Nigerian for recognising his weakness as a defender. 

Wesley Sneijder praised Calvin Bassey for recognising his weakness
Bassey is finally settling in at Ajax Wesley Sneijder praised Calvin Bassey for recognising his weakness

“He has to find a middle ground in handing in the balls a little faster. Knowing your own weaknesses is also a quality. When you realize that you have to hand in the ball quickly, otherwise things can go wrong,” Senijder concluded. 

Nonetheless, Bassey will not be too bothered about Sneijder’s latest tirade against him after putting in a man-of-the-match display in Ajax’s 1-0 win over NEC Nijmegen. 

Despite his troubles in the first half of the year, Bassey has had a decent start to life at Ajax. The 23-year-old has made 31 appearances in all competitions for the Dutch champions, scoring one goal and creating another five. 

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Meanwhile, Bassey’s recent upturn in form may be down to his new role at Ajax after the Nigeria international revealed he prefers playing as a centre-back. 

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