Impressed Daley Blind has heaped praise on Rangers for providing Ajax with a ready made star in Calvin Bassey.
The Nigeria international has hit the ground running with the Eredivisie big-hitters and is now primed for a quick-fire reunion with his old team in the Champions League. Former Manchester United star Blind reckons the Ibrox side deserve kudos for honing Bassey's skills after he joined from Leicester City's academy side for a nominal fee back in 2020. The veteran stopper is convinced his new team-mate can become one of European football's best defenders.
Bassey enjoyed a stratospheric rise in Glasgow, which culminated with all-star displays in the Europa League and Scottish Cup finals before Ajax landed their man in a £19m deal plus add-ons over the summer. And the former Rangers star has recovered from an early red card against PSV to forge a formidable double act with Jurrien Timber in the heart of defence.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday's blockbuster, Blind said: "Already we can see that he (Calvin Bassey) is a big talent. We can see he is strong and enjoys the physical side of the game - but he is also comfortable on the ball and playing out from the back - and that is the style of football threat we try to play at Ajax.
"Rangers must take credit for the player he is and his development. He is a young player still and as a young player it is so important where you can be at a club where you will play and where they obviously want to develop you - and Rangers was that club for him. Now he is at Ajax we hope his development can go up a level and he can become one of the best defenders in Europe."
Blind has also revealed the 22-year-old only has good things to say about his former team-mates as the Dutch champions seek an edge ahead of the clash with Gio van Bronckhorst's Europa League finalists.
He added: "Of course we have spoken with him about the game against Rangers to help us prepare. He has only positive things to say about them - but all that will matter will be trying to win the game. With also Liverpool and Napoli in the group for me it is one of the toughest groups - that is why it is so important we try and get off to a good start against Rangers."
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