Sydney van Hooijdonk, the son of former Celtic star Pierre, has given his backing to ex-Rangers defender Calvin Bassey who he ranks as amongst the Eredivisie’s toughest opponents.
Heerenveen striker Sydney van Hooijdonk, who we’ve previously looked at for Rangers, banged in 19 goals in the Dutch top flight last season and has came up against the great and good of the division.
And the 23-year-old ranks his battles with Ajax centre-back Bassey as amongst the most fierce in glowing comments which are in defiance of widespread negative reporting in the Netherlands.
Sydney van Hooijdonk praises Calvin Bassey
The Nigerian international defender – who broke the outgoing Rangers transfer record in the summer after a £23m switch to Holland – has had a tough time of it so far on the continent.
So often the scapegoat during a poor Ajax season, the price tag hasn’t helped Calvin Bassey but Sydney van Hooijdonk reckons plenty have the 23-year-old ex-Rangers star all wrong.
“He is often ridiculed in the Netherlands, but I think Bassey is really tough as a defender,” Sydney van Hooijdonk told Voetbal International.
“I know that I am certainly not the only Eredivisie striker who thinks so. He’s fast, strong and he looks good, I found that a really difficult match.”
Bassey linked with £20m Premier League switch
The Sydney van Hooijdonk comments come at a time when Calvin Bassey is being linked with a return to the UK and the Premier League in a £20m switch.
Respected Dutch outlet De Telegraaf have claimed that the centre-back is the subject of interest from the English top flight and potentially ending his frustrating stint at Ajax.
“To my amazement, a bid of 23 million euros has been received for Calvin Bassey,” journalist Mike Verweij told Telesport, which is a podcast run by De Telegraaf.
“It’s from the English Premier League. I don’t know which club.
“And by the way, some people at Ajax think that he can be sold one day for 40 million Euros.
“I don’t know which club it was, although it won’t have been one in the top five.”
Ex-Rangers defender Calvin Bassey made 39 appearances for Ajax last season and was branded the “worst wrong turn” in European football history in hyperbolic statements made in the Dutch press.
