Former Ajax winger Kenneth Perez is confident that embattled Nigerian defender Calvin Bassey will add value to the team, especially if he plays at left‑back. The 23‑year‑old has faced heavy criticism since joining Ajax for a club‑record £19.6 million (€23 million) from Glasgow Rangers last July. Critics have targeted his offensive shortcomings and passing ability, with club legends Wesley Sneijder and René van der Gijp questioning the signing.
Bassey enjoyed regular playing time under former manager Alfred Schreuder, making 16 league appearances and scoring once. However, he has yet to start a match under interim manager John Heitinga and was named on the bench for the league game against RKC Waalwijk on Sunday. “He was not the saviour, but with him you can play further from your goal and put more pressure forward,” Perez told ESPN, as reported by Ajax Showtime. “He’s got enough speed to cover the depths behind you. He’s fast and strong. He may be a drama on the ball, but he’s very good at that sort of thing. You can rely on him for this kind of job.”
In a recent interview with Ajax Showtime, the former Glasgow Rangers left‑back acknowledged the high expectations and demands from the fans. “I think it’s a wonderful club with a lot of history. When you go to a club as big as Ajax there will always be certain expectations. It’s good to set the bar high, and it’s certainly high here. We also expect that of ourselves, so we demand a lot from each other.”
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