Sebastien Bassong has shared an amusing tale from his time at Tottenham, revealing that Benoît Assou-Ekotto had no idea who Rafael van der Vaart was when the Dutchman arrived from Real Madrid.
Football dressing rooms are a melting pot of personalities, with players from different backgrounds bringing their quirks and traits into the team dynamic.
Some are driven by an undying passion for the game, while others treat it as just another job. One such personality was Tottenham Hotspur’s Benoît Assou-Ekotto, and former teammate Sebastien Bassong, has now shed light on just how detached the Cameroonian left-back was from the football world.
Benoit Assou-Ekotto saw Tottenham as a job
During his appearance on talkSPORT, Bassong was asked whether it was true that Assou-Ekotto never truly loved football. Without hesitation, the former defender confirmed it.
“That is 110% true. He just found out he was good at football. But the whole football industry… He is so down to earth. Now he is back in France, in his small village, and he just does not do anything—like literally does not do anything.”
However, Bassong did not stop there. He went on to share a hilarious moment that highlighted just how out of touch Assou-Ekotto was with the footballing world, particularly when it came to high-profile players.
“Who is that?” Assou-Ekotto’s unforgettable introduction to Rafael Van der Vaart
Bassong recalled a moment that left manager Harry Redknapp stunned. “Do you know the story of when Benoît met Rafa for the first time?” he asked.
“Rafa signed for Spurs on the last day of the transfer window, so the next day we had a team photo. Benoît was late. He was sitting next to me, and Rafa was coming in with Harry. Harry was introducing him to everyone—’Hi, hi, hi.’ Everybody knew who Rafael van der Vaart was; he had just come from Madrid.
“Benoît turned to me and said, ‘Who is that?’ Then he asked Harry. Harry said, ‘Rafa… Benoît.’ And Benoît said, ‘What is your name?’
“He had no clue who Rafael van der Vaart was. Harry was so embarrassed he had to reassure Rafa, ‘Do not worry.'”
However, despite his nonchalant approach to the game, the left-back made 204 appearances for Spurs, scoring four goals and providing ten assists.