C a l vi n c li m b
ON THE BREADLINE IN LONDON, DISCARDED BY LEICESTER CITY... BASSEY IS NOW DINING OUT AT EUROPE’S TOP TABLE
CALVIN BASSEY refused to give up on his dream after Leicester told him he was not good enough to make it.
Two years later, the Italy-born, Nigerian international defender, who grew up in south London, is starring in the Champions League.
Bassey, 22, joined Ajax in a deal this summer that netted Rangers a record £20million, having revived his career in Glasgow after his exit from the King Power Stadium.
He says a humble upbringing in London helped to make him hungry for success.
So when Leicester allowed him to go for free – without even playing a first-team game – he grasped with both hands the lifeline offered to him at Ibrox by
the then-rangers manager Steven Gerrard. Bassey said: “In my youth in London, we did have both food and clothes – but we were still poor. “That’s w hy my journey from there to the Champions League is so incredible. “To get the chance to really show myself on this stage – wow! “I will always be grateful to Rangers for giving me the opportunity after I didn’t play a senior game at Leicester. I was happy that my transfer to Ajax was so good for Rangers because they gave me the stage to play.”
Bassey had worked to come through the ranks at Leicester – and also had to stay patient after moving to Glasgow.
Gerrard saw him as a full-back, and it was only when Dutchman Giovanni van Bronckhorst took over at Ibrox that Bassey was given the chance to impress as a centre-back.
He made his mark, helping Rangers qualify for the Champions League and reach the Europa League Final.
So when Ajax lost Lisandro Martinez to Manchester
United, the Amsterdam club made their move. Ajax opened their Champions League campaign by beating Rangers 3-0, but in midweek lost 2-1 to Liverpool at Anfield.
Bassey said: “In terms of learning the game and how to build up from the back, I still
have a lot of work to do at Ajax.
“That’s why their interest came
as a shock for me, because I am a much bigger defender than the type they normally go for – look at Martinez, for example.
“English-type players hardly ever go to Ajax or even abroad in general – but this move was a no-brainer for me.
“I have promised Giovanni van Bronckhorst a big present because he has been such a big influence on my career.
“Maybe Gio will get a pair of wooden shoes, clogs, or tulips? That would be funny, but no, he deserves a bigger and nicer memento than that.
“I always felt at home at Rangers because the club felt like my family – thanks to Gio.
“The manager believed in me and helped me. In my first season, I did not play. Then Steven Gerrard left and you ask yourself if the new boss is interested in you.
“Giovanni put me in as a central defender from the start, not my natural position. But he gave me the belief that I can become one of the best central defenders in Europe.”