Calvin Bassey: Rangers defender ‘like Virgil Van Dijk’
Posted: Thu May 19, 2022 6:05 pm
https://talksport.com/football/1113104/ ... -transfer/
star Calvin Bassey: Rangers defender ‘like Virgil Van Dijk’ and ‘destined for big things’ after shining in Europa League final, which could lead to Premier League return and Leicester regret
Adam Goodwin
19th May 2022, 12:57 pm
Updated: 19th May 2022, 1:03 pm
“Can we just talk about Calvin Bassey for a second?”
Jason Cundy asked a question that almost everyone up and down the country will have also been posing after the Rangers defender’s magnificent performance in Seville – which also earned praise from legend Ally McCoist.
The defender was unstoppable on Wednesday night and has been throughout most of the season in Scotland
getty
4
The defender was unstoppable on Wednesday night and has been throughout most of the season in Scotland
And you can bet your bottom dollar that nobody was going to stop Cundy and Jamie O’Hara waxing lyrical about the talented 22-year-old.
“He looked sensational tonight, absolutely sensational. I thought he was the best player on the pitch,” talkSPORT host Cundy said on The Sports Bar.
“He was immense, 22 years of age. He is destined for big things, this kid – he was absolutely superb tonight.”
O’Hara even went as far as comparing him to one of the best centre-backs in world football, adding: “What a player, he was like [Virgil] Van Dijk!”
That’s big praise but, you have to say, it’s accurate.
Whilst he’s not quite as tall as Van Dijk, Bassey possesses a lot of the same attributes as Liverpool’s defensive rock.
Comparisons to Van Dijk aren’t far off the mark
Left-footed Bassey played a lot of football at full-back for Leicester
Quick, strong, and comfortable on the ball, the Rangers man has everything you’d want from a modern-day centre-back.
And, despite a dominating performance in their cup final defeat in that position on Wednesday night, Bassey has spent a large portion of his career at left-back.
His former boss Steven Gerrard signed him from Leicester in 2020 and labelled him as a full-back when talking about his new addition for the first time, whilst handing him the No.3 shirt at Ibrox.
Even this season, he has shown his versatility under Gerrard’s successor, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, by playing in both positions but, after his performance against Frankfurt, there should be only one he plays from now.
He showed his mental toughness as well as his physical strength in extra-time, when his two incredible recovery runs prevented the German side from taking the lead.
Stopping Germans is what the English like to do best, but, unfortunately for Gareth Southgate, Bassey has pledged his allegiance to the Nigerian national team and has already made two senior caps for the Super Eagles.
That’s despite him being born in Italy, which is where he grew up before moving to England and joining Leicester at 15.
The fact that Rangers signed him for absolutely nothing from the Foxes now represents a phenomenal piece of business – and reason for major regret from the Foxes camp.
With Bassey contracted until 2024, Rangers can command a decent fee if a team from the Premier League, or anywhere else, tries sniffing around him this summer – and Rangers legend McCoist says he could ‘walk’ into any team.
Could we see Bassey in the Premier League soon?
getty
4
Could we see Bassey in the Premier League soon?
“What about that performance, he was absolutely frightening,” the Ibrox favourite said on Thursday’s talkSPORT Breakfast.
“He’s walking in anywhere on that performance.”
Some will say he could have done better for the Frankfurt equaliser, but, at 22, you can’t expect him to be the finished article.
His performance at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium was almost perfect, however, which impressed fans, pundits, and maybe even some scouts.
And if he wants the Van Dijk comparisons to continue, a move from Scotland to the Premier League would help, which might just lead to Virgil-like superstar status.
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star Calvin Bassey: Rangers defender ‘like Virgil Van Dijk’ and ‘destined for big things’ after shining in Europa League final, which could lead to Premier League return and Leicester regret
Adam Goodwin
19th May 2022, 12:57 pm
Updated: 19th May 2022, 1:03 pm
“Can we just talk about Calvin Bassey for a second?”
Jason Cundy asked a question that almost everyone up and down the country will have also been posing after the Rangers defender’s magnificent performance in Seville – which also earned praise from legend Ally McCoist.
The defender was unstoppable on Wednesday night and has been throughout most of the season in Scotland
getty
4
The defender was unstoppable on Wednesday night and has been throughout most of the season in Scotland
And you can bet your bottom dollar that nobody was going to stop Cundy and Jamie O’Hara waxing lyrical about the talented 22-year-old.
“He looked sensational tonight, absolutely sensational. I thought he was the best player on the pitch,” talkSPORT host Cundy said on The Sports Bar.
“He was immense, 22 years of age. He is destined for big things, this kid – he was absolutely superb tonight.”
O’Hara even went as far as comparing him to one of the best centre-backs in world football, adding: “What a player, he was like [Virgil] Van Dijk!”
That’s big praise but, you have to say, it’s accurate.
Whilst he’s not quite as tall as Van Dijk, Bassey possesses a lot of the same attributes as Liverpool’s defensive rock.
Comparisons to Van Dijk aren’t far off the mark
Left-footed Bassey played a lot of football at full-back for Leicester
Quick, strong, and comfortable on the ball, the Rangers man has everything you’d want from a modern-day centre-back.
And, despite a dominating performance in their cup final defeat in that position on Wednesday night, Bassey has spent a large portion of his career at left-back.
His former boss Steven Gerrard signed him from Leicester in 2020 and labelled him as a full-back when talking about his new addition for the first time, whilst handing him the No.3 shirt at Ibrox.
Even this season, he has shown his versatility under Gerrard’s successor, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, by playing in both positions but, after his performance against Frankfurt, there should be only one he plays from now.
He showed his mental toughness as well as his physical strength in extra-time, when his two incredible recovery runs prevented the German side from taking the lead.
Stopping Germans is what the English like to do best, but, unfortunately for Gareth Southgate, Bassey has pledged his allegiance to the Nigerian national team and has already made two senior caps for the Super Eagles.
That’s despite him being born in Italy, which is where he grew up before moving to England and joining Leicester at 15.
The fact that Rangers signed him for absolutely nothing from the Foxes now represents a phenomenal piece of business – and reason for major regret from the Foxes camp.
With Bassey contracted until 2024, Rangers can command a decent fee if a team from the Premier League, or anywhere else, tries sniffing around him this summer – and Rangers legend McCoist says he could ‘walk’ into any team.
Could we see Bassey in the Premier League soon?
getty
4
Could we see Bassey in the Premier League soon?
“What about that performance, he was absolutely frightening,” the Ibrox favourite said on Thursday’s talkSPORT Breakfast.
“He’s walking in anywhere on that performance.”
Some will say he could have done better for the Frankfurt equaliser, but, at 22, you can’t expect him to be the finished article.
His performance at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium was almost perfect, however, which impressed fans, pundits, and maybe even some scouts.
And if he wants the Van Dijk comparisons to continue, a move from Scotland to the Premier League would help, which might just lead to Virgil-like superstar status.
Betting Offer Of The Day