Wesley Sneijder in veiled Rangers jibe as Calvin Bassey issued Ajax reality check after 'other league' success

Dutch legend Wesley Sneijder has taken aim at Calvin Bassey after his Ajax struggles this term - as he played down his success at Rangers.

The Nigerian international has been in and out of John Heitinga's starting line-up since he he took over from Alfred Schreuder in the midst of a lacklustre campaign, with the Dutch giants three points off the pace in the Eredivise title race and already crashing out of Europe. Despite the 23-year-old being handed a start in the 1-0 win over NEC Nijmegen, Bassey has struggled to win over the Ajax support and pundits following his £19million Ibrox exit.

Despite playing a key role in Rangers run to the Europa League final last term and lifting the Scottish Cup, Sneijder reckons that the bumper fee could have been better spent elsewhere rather than taking the gamble on the centre-back. The former Real Madrid, Ajax and Inter Milan playmaker played down Bassey's credentials that were picked up in "another league" - insisting he has to learn to "play football" at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

Speaking to Veronica Offside, he said: "I still think £19million is too much. He plays at Ajax, so he will have to be able to play football.

"He might be fantastic in another league. But he has a hard time when he has to play from the back. He can defend, but he has to find a middle ground in handing in the balls a little faster.

"Knowing your own weaknesses is also a quality. When you realise that you have to hand the ball away quickly, otherwise things can go wrong."

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