Arsenal’s standout player Bukayo Saka has disclosed his childhood idol, emphasizing his profound admiration for the disciplined, focused, and extraordinary Premier League legend.
Saka, who emerged from Arsenal’s youth system to become one of the Premier League’s top talents, surprisingly idolized a player from one of the Gunners’ rival clubs during his upbringing.
At just 22 years old, the England international was a mere two years old when Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ achieved their historic Premier League triumph, and he was six years old when Thierry Henry bid farewell to north London for Barcelona in 2007.
Saka reveals his idol
Saka has disclosed that former Manchester United icon Cristiano Ronaldo was his ‘idol’ during his formative years, expressing deep admiration and respect for the 39-year-old veteran.
The Gunners star, who has amassed 16 goals and 15 assists across all competitions this season, highlights the longevity of Ronaldo’s career as the most impressive aspect.
‘Personally I can’t (imagine playing for as long as Ronaldo), and that’s why I have so much respect for him,’ Saka told the Men in Blazers podcast.
‘Obviously when I when I was younger, he was my idol, but now that I’m playing football professionally, I have even more respect for him, how he’s managed to stay this disciplined and this focused and achieve everything he’s achieved, so yeah he’s special.’
Ronaldo won three Premier League titles, a Champions League, two League Cups and an FA Cup with Manchester United before securing a then world-record £80million move to Real Madrid in 2009.
The Portuguese superstar enjoyed more success at the Bernabeu, taking his tally of one Ballon d’Or to five by 2017, and left to join Juventus a year later after chalking up a rich portfolio of trophies.
Ronaldo completed a fairytale move back to Old Trafford in 2021 but the return ultimately turned sour, concluding in an acrimonious exit to Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Nassr in January 2023 following a fallout with Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag.
Saka, who recently surpassed the Al-Nassr star for goals and assists after the same number of matches at his age, is hoping to lead Arsenal to their first Premier League title since 2004 by triumphing over fellow challengers Liverpool and Manchester City at the end of the season.
The England winger starred during Arsenal’s 6-0 thrashing of Sheffield United on Monday night, moving to within two points of league leaders Liverpool and one behind reigning champions Manchester City.
