Arsenal and England winger Bukayo Saka may not be pleased after learning one of his team-mates has revealed his secret nickname in the Gunners dressing room – and it's not flattering
Bukayo Saka of Arsenal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD2 match between Arsenal FC and Paris Saint-Germain
Bukayo Saka's secret nickname in the Arsenal camp has come to light (
Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Jorginho has revealed the not-so-complimentary nickname bestowed upon Bukayo Saka in the Arsenal dressing room.
Saka has been far and away the Gunners' best player so far this season as they vie for the Premier League title. The England winger has scored five goals and notched 10 assists in the league alone, racking up nine more direct goal contributions than his nearest squad rival.
The 23-year-old has become almost robotic in terms of his reliability for Mikel Arteta's side. And Jorginho lifted the lid on the sarcastic sobriquet he's been handed as a result of his consistently talismanic performances.
During a recent appearance on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, the midfielder said: "Now he's gonna be really upset with me. So basically in Brazil, we have this joke, and we make this nickname, yes? [In] Brazil, pé, it means feet, foot, yeah? And pesudo, it means big foot. So when it’s like bad technique or control or something like that, so we start calling him like, 'oh, pesudo!' Yeah, he goes mad."
Manchester United legend Ferdinand, 46, could hardly believe what he was hearing given Saka is one of the Premier League's most technically gifted stars. But that's when Jorginho explained the irony behind the moniker.
The Italy international continued: "Yeah, but it’s a joke because he’s completely the opposite, isn’t he? And he’s just an unbelievable player who is becoming like a machine for us, and I hope he becomes like for England as well, you know. Because his talent and his hunger and his quality is just so high.
"And on top of that, the person he is – he just deserves the world, everything. I'm there cheering for him, honestly."
And Jorginho continued to keep up the compliments for his team-mate as he revealed his desire to see Saka lift the Ballon d'Or. The winger finished 21st in the rankings for this year's award, but Jorginho is eager to see his efforts recognised after such consistent success at Arsenal.
Jorginho (L) is backing Saka (middle) to one day lift the Ballon d'Or (
Image:
Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
"[Saka] is unbelievable… world class," he said when Ferdinand asked for some insights into Saka's character. "I said to him: ‘I want to see you win the Ballon d’Or.' I said that because I believe in him... I hope he believes in himself as well."
Arsenal are up to second in the Premier League thanks to Saka's contributions off the right flank this season. Granted, there are nine points between them and runaway leaders Liverpool, but Arteta & Co have appeared to weather an early storm – including a plague of injuries in past months – to stay in the fight.
The north Londoners look prepped to pounce should Arne Slot's men show any signs of stumbling later this season. And it will be largely thanks to Saka's input that that's the case.
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