This Peruvian Player Is Named Osama Vinladen, His Brother Saddam Husein
JAKARTA - This week, a Peruvian footballer caught the eye. It's not the game, it's the name.
The 18-year-old's full name, Osama Vinladen Jimenez Lopez, is making headlines again after joining Peru's second division club Union Comercio. The club announced the signing with a photo and name of their new player on social media.
As a result, posts on Twitter went viral, mainly because the letter 'v' was pronounced 'b' in Spanish.
In an interview with the radio show 'Que T'hi Jugues' in Ser Catalunya, Osama Vinladen explained that naming him after the former leader of the militant organization Al-Qaeda was his father's decision. Osama's brother also has a very unusual name.
"My brother's name is Saddam Hussein and my father wants to name the third child George Bush, but it is a girl," he said as quoted by MARCA, Wednesday, October 21.
“When Osama Bin Laden tore down the Twin Towers, that name made the news and I was born on October 7, 2002.
“I've been through this situation and it seems normal. My shirt says Osama. I thought about changing my name, but now I'm calm. "
The 18-year-old later defended his father's decision to name him after Bin Laden. "I think my dad likes him," said the player.
"I think there is a person named Hitler also in Peru. Jesus saved the world and there was Jesus who committed crimes. Because there was Osama who killed people, I don't think there should be a law on names. It is attracting a lot of attention, from what I see. "
Osama has a son named Santiago. Although the name was taken from his grandfather's name, he would be called George Bush.