Pundit insists Man Utd new boy Martínez has better ball-playing skills than Ajax-bound Bassey

ESPN Netherlands presenter Cristian Willaert reckons that Manchester United new signing Lisandro Martínez has better ball-playing skills than Rangers defender Calvin Bassey.

The Super Eagles star is on the verge of completing a move to Ajax Amsterdam as a replacement for Martinez.

Just as the Argentina international, Bassey can play multiple positions on the pitch including left-back, centre-back and left wingback, and can be used in multiple formations.

Having monitored the Leicester City academy product at close quarters during the Europa League final between Rangers and Eintracht Frankfurt, Willaert highlighted that Bassey offers physicality, is a good crosser of the ball, can make passes and is pacy. 

Bassey, who is predominantly a left-back, was first tested in a centre-back role in his final season at the Leicester academy and started playing more centrally after the appointment of Giovanni van Bronckhorst as coach of Rangers. 

Asked whether Bassey has less footballing skills than Martínez, Willaert said on Voetbal Talk : "Bassey is certainly good on the ball, but I don't think he is as good on the ball as Daley Blind or Martínez for example.

"In addition to Timber, he can bring something in terms of dueling power that Timber does not really have. So head power, length, physicality and pure speed."

The 22-year-old Bassey spent two seasons at Rangers during which he won the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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