Ajax chief executive Edwin van der Sar has shut down claims from the Dutch press that Calvin Bassey wasn't scouted before he left Rangers.
Bassey penned a five-year-deal with the Dutch giants, leaving Rangers for a club record breaking fee of £19.5million, which could raise to just under £23m should he impress in the Eredivise and Champions League. However, he has been heavily criticised by Ajax legends and pundits following a disappointing start to life in the Netherlands. Fingers were pointed at the Nigeria international following heavy European defeats to Napoli, and things haven't got much better for the centre-back.
Fingers were pointed at Bassey during the 3-3 draw with FC Emmen which saw Ajax slip off top spot in the table with Feyenoord taking a three-point advantage. That has led to speculation that Bassey was not watched by scouts during his time in the Scottish Premiership before the club splashed the cash on Lisandro Martinez's replacement.
Amsterdam executive van der Sar, though, has moved to shut down the theory that Bassey was not tracked properly before his big money Rangers exit. He was quizzed about the disappointing start to the campaign for boss Alfred Schreuder as well as Bassey's switch.
Van der Sar told Voetbal Primeur : “We have sold too many players. That is not a good start for a new trainer, and our scouting apparatus is not aimed at players who have a direct Champions League level, but at players with potential.
“Without scouting reports, no players are bought here. You shouldn’t believe everything you read in the newspaper.”
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