Footballers, as we all know, are not just teammates on the pitch; they are often like a family off it too. And as is the case with any group of friends or family, nicknames are bound to emerge. Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, the young English winger whose flair and skill have earned him the admiration of football fans worldwide, recently found himself the subject of a quirky nickname controversy.
In a lighthearted moment during a press conference, Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal FC, revealed a nickname that had been given to Saka by the Brazilian contingent in the squad, sparking a bit of confusion among fans. Let’s break it down and explore the amusing tale behind “Pezudo.”
The Origins of ‘Pezudo’
The story begins with a simple nickname. According to Arteta, Saka, who has grown into a key player for the Gunners, has a few nicknames. But one that recently came to light was reportedly coined by the Brazilian contingent at Arsenal, including the likes of Jorginho, Gabriel Jesus, and the Gabriel Magalhães duo. The nickname in question? “Pezudo.”
“Pezudo,” in Portuguese, translates roughly to “big feet,” a playful reference to Saka’s exceptional dribbling skills and ball control. The nickname seems to stem from the Brazilian players’ affectionate jabs at their English teammate’s impressive ability to glide past opponents with his feet. But, in an amusing turn of events, when Arteta was asked about this nickname during a recent press conference, there was a bit of confusion.
The reporter asked Arteta if he knew about Saka’s “pseudo” nickname, a term that left the manager baffled for a moment. Arteta was perplexed by the term “pseudo,” which in English refers to something false or pretended. However, when the reporter clarified that “pseudo” was meant to mean “big feet,” Arteta quickly grasped the situation. The Spanish manager then remarked that “B,” as Saka is also sometimes called, had a few nicknames, joking that the Brazilian group probably had a few fun terms for the young star.
And so, the nickname controversy was born.
The Fan Reaction
As expected, the nickname “Pezudo” (or “pseudo,” depending on who you ask) sparked a wave of fan reactions. Arsenal fans, especially those from the Portuguese-speaking world, were quick to comment on the situation, leading to a series of humorous and, at times, confused responses.
One fan, likely a Portuguese speaker, quickly corrected the miscommunication, pointing out, “In Portuguese, pseudo means pseudo. Even because it’s a Latin word. No idea what you’re talking about, mate.” This led to a counter-response from another Brazilian fan who addressed the error by saying, “It’s PEZUDO,” clearing up the confusion by suggesting maybe the English journalist meant this term instead. In reply, a fan joked, “Pseudo makes no sense, thank you, man, haha,” highlighting the absurdity of the mix-up.
The humorous side of the situation became even more apparent as one fan quipped, “He panicked for a minute and thought he had a pedo in the side. 😂” referring to Arteta’s brief confusion over the word “pseudo” and its possible implications, adding a bit of light-hearted humor to the situation.
Another fan joined in with, “Pseudo is NOT big feet in Brazil,” emphasizing that the translation was far off the mark, reinforcing the idea that “Pezudo” was the correct term.
Then came the skeptical fan who asked, “What Portuguese is this, please? 😂 no such word exists,” pointing out further how the initial confusion stemmed from a simple linguistic error. It’s clear from these comments that fans took the mix-up in stride, adding their own jabs and jokes to the situation.
What Does ‘Pezudo’ Actually Mean?
For those unfamiliar with Portuguese, let’s clear up the confusion once and for all. “Pezudo,” as mentioned earlier, translates to “big feet” or “big-footed” in Portuguese. It’s not a formal term but rather a playful nickname based on Saka’s incredible ball control, often associated with someone who has a “light touch” or great dexterity with their feet. In Brazilian football culture, players often give each other nicknames that reflect their skills, personalities, or even physical attributes.
Interestingly, the word “pseudo,” which the reporter mistakenly used, comes from Latin and generally means “false” or “imitation.” Clearly this was a case of translation gone awry, and Arteta’s initial confusion was understandable. Once the correct term “Pezudo” was clarified, the situation was put to rest.
