Nigeria international Calvin Bassey says he is not bothered by the high expectations and demands of Ajax fans since his move to the club last summer. The defender has faced heavy criticism since joining Ajax for a club‑record £19.6 million (€23 million) from Glasgow Rangers in July. Critics, including club legends Wesley Sneijder and René van der Gijp, have questioned his offensive abilities and passing range.
The 23‑year‑old 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.
In an interview with Ajax Showtime, Bassey said he is unfazed by the expectations of the club’s supporters. “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. I think it’s good to set the bar high and it’s certainly high here. We also expect that of ourselves, so we also demand a lot from each other.”
Bassey wants to develop further at Ajax. “I want to better understand Ajax’s style and adapt myself to it. I want the style to suit me more. That’s my goal now. I can do anything as long as I want it bad enough,” he said.
He also reflected on his early career, recalling how he was rejected by several English clubs before joining Leicester City in 2015. “I remember when I was on my way to Southampton. I went wherever I could smell professional football. I’ve been rejected by a lot of professional clubs,” he added.
Comments are closed for this story.