It’s that time of year again when the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) awards continue their tradition of recognizing players adjudged to be the best in their respective English football leagues.
The 116th edition was held in Manchester, where players arrived at The Lowry in formal attire to attend this prestigious event.
From the Arsenal team, William Saliba, Aaron Ramsdale, Bukayo Saka, and Martin Odegaard were pictured arriving at the event.
The Arsenal star won the award for Young Player of the Year, a title previously held by Phil Foden for two consecutive seasons.
This recognition comes after his brilliant season for the Gunners and the England National team. Scoring 22 goals for both his club and country at just 21 years of age, and being a driving force in Arsenal’s close title challenge to Manchester City last season, his award was well-deserved, earning appreciation even from rival fans.
However, one criticism he couldn’t escape, even from his own fanbase, was regarding his outfit.
While his on-field qualities know no bounds, his off-the-field attire has often come under scrutiny, with the social media football community critiquing his fashion sense as childish.
In an event where his teammates turned up in fitted tuxedos, Saka was pictured attending the event in ‘church pants’.
I want to fight whoever choose the suit pants for Saka & Ødegaard…those cuts are for church not for events. pic.twitter.com/hJmLv45u1Q
In today’s world, where football players are assessed based on the aura they exude and their ‘drip’ whenever they’re seen away from the football ground, Twitter users didn’t waste much time noticing his pants, which seemed too large for him.
They poked fun at his fashion sense, drawing comparisons to a schoolboy who showed up as if it were his first day of term. While his fans tried their best to defend him, stating he’s more focused on winning awards than on his outfits, rival fans showed no mercy to poor Bukayo.
Saka still dressing like he going for year 11 prom. Get a tapered suit and bow tie bro 😭 https://t.co/WQIk1jjCZG
Questions were raised by Arsenal fans about his stylist and tailor and how they could let their star boy appear at such a significant event and receive an award while wearing ill-fitting pants.
The internet didn’t even spare his mom, suggesting it was time she stopped styling her son and buying him the ‘you’ll grow into it’ suit.
The English superstar recently signed a new four-year contract with Arsenal this summer, with a wage increase to nearly £300k per week.
Understandably, people called on him to replace his current stylist and invest more so that he could present a more polished image to the world.
Saka needs a stylist asap. Old boy needs to step aside make my boy get stylist. We need the aesthetics to match the starboy brand.
Although most of it was light-hearted banter, given his immense talent and wholesome personality, it’s nearly impossible to dislike such a gifted youngster.
People attempted to remind him that he needed to start paying more attention to his outfits when appearing at award ceremonies as with his high potential and promising future, the Balon d’Or could come calling for him before long.
