Bassey is a bad defender and can't play football really well - Sneijder

Former Netherlands star, Wesley Sneijder, says he’s unhappy with Calvin Bassey’s performance and has labeled him a poor defender by all standards.

Sneijder who caught his teeth at the Johan Cruyff Arena said the Nigeria international is can’t play out from the back.

Bassey has been under heavy criticism recently from fans and ex-footballers a few weeks following his arrival from Glasgow Rangers for a club-record €23m in the summer.

“You have Bassey who can’t build up, (Jurien) Timber who isn’t doing well and then you don’t have a controlling midfielder who wants to build up. Then it becomes quite difficult in the build-up and you don’t get to play football,” Dutch media outlet Soccernews quoted Sneijder as saying.

Sneijder also claimed Bassey is not the solution to Ajax’s leaking defense and advised the manager to replace him with Edson Alvarez.

“You must have someone who can play the ball between the lines at (Steven) Berghuis. I might put him on the defensive.

“Take Bassey out and put Álvarez back in line. Defending is all Álvarez can do. He can be very important for Ajax one line back.

“I’m not happy about Bassey in general, the defenders at Ajax can play football well.

“That has always been a principle. I think he’s a bad defender and he can’t play football very well. It’s pretty silly that you can’t play football well when you play at Ajax," he concluded.