Calvin Bassey reveals ‘ruthless’ Rangers verdict in review of time at Ibrox
Calvin Bassey could not believe the ruthlessness of Rangers when he first signed for the club from Leicester City back on 6 June 2020.
The 23-year-old is now playing for Ajax after a £20million move in the summer following his starring in the Light Blues’ run to the Europa League final last season.
He revealed that he had no idea how important Rangers were to the fans and the size of the club having left a Premier League side to join Steven Gerrard in Glasgow.
“I didn’t realise how big a club it is until I got there. It is ruthless,” he said to The Telegraph. “A lot of people asked me why I was going there. The manager at Leicester liked me and wanted to know why I wanted to leave.
“I was so in my comfort zone at Leicester. Rangers gave me the opportunity to step out of that comfort zone and it also helped me to grow up as a player and a man.
“They told me because I’m young so I had to give the most energy. You’re a kid, you shouldn’t even be on the massage bed! It is banter but there is truth there.”
Special player
Only the very best defenders can impose themselves on a game in the way Bassey did, especially in the Premiership and Rangers have been lacking that defensive dominance this season.
You could see when players began to run at the Light Blues last season that they would suddenly stop and try to turn around or pass when Bassey got close because they knew he was both quicker and stronger than them.
After the summer sale to the Dutch champions, Rangers have found themselves in defensive issues for a number of reasons and they would dearly love him back at Auchenhowie.
But that £20million is too much of an importance to the club and means they can hopefully hold on to their star men in the next few years.
Michael Beale won’t be worrying about what could have been with the Nigerian in his team, though, because he has overseen a very good start to life at Ibrox and long may it continue.
In other Rangers news, this loan deal has already come to an end six months early after a Rangers starlet failed to impress another Scottish side.