Arsenal: 8 Incredible Urban Legends You Didn't Know About

6. Dennis 'The Donkey' Bergkamp

During his stint at Inter, Dennis Bergkamp picked up the affection nickname: donkey. He arrived on Italian soil as one of the greatest prospects in football, having single-handedly plotted the demise of every team in the Eredivisie at Ajax and had begun to shine with the national team too when Inter brought him into one of Europe's most elite clubs. From day one, it didn't go well: he was cajoled during training by his squad mates who didn't recognise the more sensitive nature of their new striker, and unhappy, he tried to show what he could do on the pitch to win some respect and nicer treatment of his new footballing family. Each week, a vote would be cast for the most ridiculous mistake made by any player in a prominent Italian newspaper, called the donkey of the week, and Bergkamp became so disliked that the rumour goes that the paper changed the name of the inauspicious award to Bergkamp of the week instead. Those bullies. This treatment led to Bergkamp's leaving of the club and eventual arrival at Arsenal, where he went from donkey to supreme leader in a brilliant Arsenal side. So Is It True? Yes; the Italian publication did indeed rename their award given to the worst performance of the week, L'asino della settimana (Donkey of the Week) to Bergkamp della settimana.