Relief for Ajax as they ditch Ibrox flop Bassey
Soccer Football - Europa League - Final - Eintracht Frankfurt v Rangers - Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Seville, Spain - May 18, 2022 Rangers' Calvin Bassey with teammates look dejected after the match REUTERS/John Sibley
Ajax are close to recovering most of the 23m euros that they wasted on Calvin Bassey with Fulham about to sign the former Ibrox superstar.
On the back of a three month run towards the end of the 21/22 season without a major error the Scottish media whipped up a frenzy around Bassey with Ajax falling for the hype with disastrous consequences.
After being sent off on his debut, the Super Cup defeat from PSV Eindhoven, things went downhill fast for the defender as he discovered the Laws of the Game applied by non-Scottish match officials.
Former Ajax players were amazed that their club had signed a player with so little ability- in the Champions League Ajax lost 6-1 at home to Napoli then accepted a face saving 4-2 defeat away to the Italians who never got out of third gear.
Ajax manager Steijn on Bassey-Fulham: “I told Calvin Bassey it would be better to leave Ajax”. ???? #FulhamFC
“Also because of the money. When he leaves — we can strengthen the squad properly. I have told him this honestly”, told Telegraaf. pic.twitter.com/Jy4Qa7cjdz
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 22, 2023
In January coach Alfred Schreuder was sacked after seven matches without a win in the Eredivisie, before the end of the season Edwin van der Saar resigned as CEO as a consequence of finishing third with the door to the Champions League closed.
New coach Maurice Steijn was blunt as he told De Telegraaf why the club was ditching the Ibrox flop:
He had a very tough year last season. Everyone gets a second chance and if he does better than anyone else he will play. But chances are – especially if we get a new left back or left central defender – he won’t play.
Southampton have been unable to find a club prepared to sign Joe Aribo, a £6m signing from Ibrox last summer.