Struggling Calvin Bassey has been ripped to shreds again by a seriously unimpressed former Ajax star who claims the defender knows "he is the joke."
Sharp-tongued Kenneth Perez didn't hold back as he ridiculed the Nigeria international after his display in the 1-1 draw with Volendam which cost beleaguered Alfred Schreuder his job. But it wasn't only the exiting boss who was feeling the strain as Bassey and his £19m plus add-ons transfer from Rangers was under the microscope. Former Danish international Perez – a favourite in the Netherlands for his uncompromising verdicts – lampooned the Nigeria international and his now former Ajax manager for attempting to play him at left-back rather than in central defence.
Speaking after the game, a visibly miffed Perez said: “We don't actually have to name it and show it every time (Bassey miscues). It is a repetitive story with him: it is very, very, very difficult on the ball. Sometimes it's even touching when you're watching. I really have the feeling that every time that round thing rolls towards him he thinks: 'oh f***, what am I going to do with that thing again' I do agree with what Schreuder said: 'it will never be a Frank de Boer, but maybe a Davinson Sánchez.
“If you want to make him a Sánchez, then you have to put him in the centre. He has power and speed, but on the ball it's really just abysmal. It doesn't get any better, of course, because he will also get a bit of the fact that he is the joke. His friend on the other side of the field (Sanchez), who is just as bad, is not there for a while. So then all the attention is on Bassey. Then he takes an action a few times that completely fails.”
“It's just touching honestly. I think you can only benefit from him in the centre of the back, but 26 million euros is a lot of money. The only thing is: he can't help it that he has cost so much. He can't help it that someone said: you know what, it seems like a nice amount to pay for him,"
Ajax are currently fifth in the Eredivisie and appear in turmoil before they face Union Berlin in the Europa League playoff round as they seek a new manager.
