Ajax wasted €23m on Bassey transfer – Van Der Vaart

With Ajax struggling for form this season, Dutch legend Rafael Van der Vaart has claimed the €23m acquisition of Nigerian defender Calvin Bassey was a ‘waste’.

Ajax signed the Nigerian defender from Glasgow Rangers, where the left back had a great 2021/2022 season, winning the Scottish league title plus a UEFA Europa league runners-up medal.

Things have not gone according to plan at Ajax this season with the current champions placed fourth on the league standings after 19 games, five points behind league leaders Feyenord.

Rafael Van der Vaart does not believe  Bassey a former Glasgow Rangers player can effectively lead the defense for Ajax.

According to the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, the money spent on Bassey was a total waste of resources.

“How is someone who played for Glasgow Rangers like Calvin Bassey going to be able to lead the defence at Ajax?,” Van der Vaart said as per Daily Record .

“Where was the Ajax youth system? Was there no one there better than him? Because if there isn’t then you have a major problem.

“Sometimes it’s better if you don’t have any money because then you don’t do crazy things. Then you wait for the right moment and occasionally take a chance. Instead, they spent €23m on Bassey. Alfred Schreuder made too many big mistakes,” he concluded.

Manager Alfred Schreuder was sacrificed for the clubs struggles after a 1-1 draw vs Volendam. In his place, John Heitinga has been appointed until the end of the season.

The Nigerian international started from the bench as Heitinga led Ajax to a 1-4 victory over Excleisor.

Bassey will have to work his way into the heart of new manager Heitinga, the fans and Dutch greats like Van der Vaart who are not comfortable with his output despite the €23m spent in his transfer, which is a huge fee by Ajax standards.