Manchester restaurateurs respond after Ilkay Gundogan's wife Sara Arfaoui blasts local restaurants

The wife of Manchester City footballer Ilkay Gundogan has hit out at restaurants across the city, complaining that there are no good places to eat.

Sara Arfaoui, 27, said in an Instagram post that she is fed up of ‘horrible food’ in Manchester, adding that its restaurants are ‘focusing on making money with drinks’.

The model, who was born in France but moved to Italy as a child, added that she could not find ‘a real Italian or good sushi or just fresh food… everything frozen’.

Ms Arfaoui, whose 31-year-old German husband plays as a midfielder, made the comments after being asked to name her favourite restaurant in Manchester.

Manchester City footballer Ilkay Gundogan, 31, with his wife Sara Arfaoui, 27

Manchester City footballer Ilkay Gundogan, 31, with his wife Sara Arfaoui, 27

Sara Arfaoui was born in France but moved to Italy as a child and worked as a TV presenter

Sara Arfaoui was born in France but moved to Italy as a child and worked as a TV presenter

Sara Arfaoui said in an Instagram post that she is fed up of 'horrible food' in Manchester

Sara Arfaoui said in an Instagram post that she is fed up of ‘horrible food’ in Manchester

In a post first reported by The Sun, she wrote: ‘Sorry, I’m sad to be honest but nothing. I tired [sic] so bad to find a good restaurant but horrible food everywhere.

‘Can’t find a real Italian or good sushi or just fresh food… everything frozen. Restaurants here are focus [sic] on making money with drinks and shot [sic] like nightclubs, not quality food. Maybe in London but in Manchester nothing. I’m sorry.’

But, reacting to her post, food critic Jay Rayner told The Sun: ‘This is a ludicrous point of view. Manchester’s packed full of brilliant, independent restaurants.

‘It’s an absolute gem of a place to eat and comments like this during difficult economic times are not helpful to businesses struggling to make ends meet.’

The model said she could not find 'a real Italian or good sushi or just fresh food'

The model said she could not find ‘a real Italian or good sushi or just fresh food’

Ms Arfaoui is a model who was born in France, and worked as a TV presenter for Rai 1 in Italy

Ms Arfaoui is a model who was born in France, and worked as a TV presenter for Rai 1 in Italy

Ms Arfaoui met Gundogan early last year and they married in Italy in May this year

Ms Arfaoui met Gundogan early last year and they married in Italy in May this year

TV chef Gary Usher added: ‘We have two restaurants in Manchester and I’m genuinely delighted that footballers and their wives don’t come because I’d be questioning our offer if they did.

‘Good taste and class is hardly synonymous with footballers’ wives and their leopard print themed cinema rooms.’

It comes after Jorgelina Cardoso, the wife of ex-Man United star Angel Di Maria, said in August that food in Britain is ‘disgusting’ and ‘the women look like porcelain’.

Among the well-known top restaurants in Manchester are Spanish eatery Tast, which is co-owned by City boss Pep Guardiola, and Mana, which in 2019 got a Michelin star.

Ilkay Gundogan and Sara Arfaoui announced their engagement in December last year

Ilkay Gundogan and Sara Arfaoui announced their engagement in December last year 

Ms Arfaoui met Gundogan early last year - and they announced their engagement in December

Ms Arfaoui met Gundogan early last year – and they announced their engagement in December

Thom Hetherington, chief executive of the of Northern Restaurant and Bar event, told the Manchester Evening News: ‘Local restaurants need our support now more than ever, and to be fair as a club Manchester City, its players and its management, have been supportive of hospitality in the city – indeed some have opened their own places like Tast on King Street – and Ilkay himself launched a fantastic appeal to support Mancunian hospitality businesses during the pandemic.

‘I’d find it genuinely sad if people like Sara, who has lived and travelled all over the world, came to my home city, lived here for many years, had an awful time, at least gastronomically, and left feeling the city had a terrible food scene.’

Ms Arfaoui, who worked as a TV presenter for Rai 1 in Italy, met Gundogan early last year – and they announced their engagement in December.

The couple are thought to have married at a registry office in Denmark before holding a lavish wedding for friends at Lake Como in Italy in May.

Gundogan played for Manchester City in last night's victory over FC Copenhagen at the Etihad

Gundogan played for Manchester City in last night’s victory over FC Copenhagen at the Etihad

TV chef Gary Usher said: 'We have two restaurants in Manchester and I'm genuinely delighted that footballers and their wives don't come because I'd be questioning our offer if they did'

TV chef Gary Usher said: ‘We have two restaurants in Manchester and I’m genuinely delighted that footballers and their wives don’t come because I’d be questioning our offer if they did’

Jorgelina Cardoso, the wife of ex-Man United star Angel Di Maria (pictured together in May 2015), said in August that food in Britain is 'disgusting' and 'the women look like porcelain'

Jorgelina Cardoso, the wife of ex-Man United star Angel Di Maria (pictured together in May 2015), said in August that food in Britain is ‘disgusting’ and ‘the women look like porcelain’

Gundogan was manager Pep Guardiola’s first signing for Manchester City, when he moved in a £21million deal from Borussia Dortmund in 2016.

The Gelsenkirchen-born footballer has made 264 appearances for City since then, scoring 51 goals – including two strikes in 12 games so far this season. 

He played in City’s 5-0 victory over FC Copenhagen 5-0 last night, with Ms Arfaoui posting pictures on Instagram of her at the Etihad Stadium in a corporate box.

Gundogan has made 62 appearances for the German national team, scoring 16 goals – including one against England in a Nations League match last week at Wembley. 

source: dailymail.co.uk