BUKAYO SAKA just loves his ‘Little Chilli’ nickname — and hopes to be red hot at Euro 2020.
The England winger was given the name at Arsenal by forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang due to his explosive finishing.
WIN £50,000! Play Dream Team Euros – our FREE fantasy football game
And skipper Auba gave him a jewel-encrusted chilli inscribed with his name after winning the FA Cup final against Chelsea in 2020.
Saka, 19, said: “It started from Auba. He said the name in French.
“We were doing one finishing drill one time in training and he kept saying it, and I kept scoring.
“I was shooting with so much power and he was calling me little chilli in French.
“I didn’t know what it was. I asked him after and he told it meant little chilli.
“From then on he kept calling me it and then it became a thing, and now it’s a big thing, a lot of people call me it.
“You’ve not seen my chain? It’s on my Instagram.
“He did a good job with that. I’m grateful. I love it. It’s unique.”
Saka landed a place in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad due to an impressive season at Arsenal.
EURO 2020 BETTING SPECIAL
WIN £50,000 with Dream Team Euros
Dream Team Euros is HERE!
The best fantasy football game to accompany Euro 2020 has arrived.
And you can play absolutely FREE for your chance to win the £50,000 jackpot.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR FREE!
Dream Team Euros
- £50,000 jackpot
- The best fantasy football game this summer
- Play in mini-leagues against your mates, colleagues, family members – and some hand-picked celebrities
- FREE to play
And the teenager thanked the role played by former club coach Freddie Ljungberg.
Saka said: “He has been really good with me.
“From 14, when he took over my development, he challenged me in a way other coaches did not.
“He pushed me and saw my potential in a way other coaches did not.
BETTING SPECIAL – GET ENGLAND TO WIN EURO 2020 AND HARRY KANE TO BE TOP SCORER AT 18/1
“All the way to the Under-23s he was still pushing me and even in the first team he was still helping me.
“Even until today. He has had a big influence on my career.
“He says different things. Because he was a winger himself he had a lot of experience himself and learning points to give me.”
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
