Ilkay Gundogan’s wife Sara Arfaoui has sparked an online backlash after labelling the restaurant scene in Manchester as “horrible”.
Sara married the Manchester City captain earlier this year, with the couple flying out to Italy days before the club won yet another Premier League title. Gundogan has been a vital cog in Pep Guardiola’s side for a number of seasons, but won’t be best pleased by the Italian model’s outburst - as he owns a city centre restaurant himself!
Speaking on social media, Sara went into detail about her food woes, claiming that a lack of fresh food and venues only focusing on making money, helped form her opinion.
After being asked for her favourite restaurant in the city, she said: “Sorry, I’m sad to be honest but nothing. I tried so bad to find a good restaurant but horrible food everywhere.
"Can’t find a real Italian or good sushi or just fresh food . . . everywhere frozen. Restaurants here are focused on making money with drinks and shots like night clubs - not quality food. Maybe in London but in Manchester, nothing. I’m sorry.”
Renowned food critic Jay Rayner, quoted by the Sun, responded: “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.”
She then replied: “So because we are successful people we can’t give an honest opinion? I tried all the best restaurants here but for me it’s a no. I can’t lie.
"Unfortunately I’m used to Italy so you can imagine it’s hard to compare,” she added: “It’s a great city, great people but not for restaurants.”
It’s a line of criticism which will be familiar to fans of the other side in Manchester, with Angel Di Maria’s wife offering similar complaints. The Argentine was a big money signing for the United back in 2014, but lasted just a season before he was back on the move, joining Paris Saint-Germain.
Di Maria spent that year in England along with his wife Jorgelina Cardoso, who later admitted she detested living in the city: “It was always horrible! We came home and I said: ‘If you’re ever transferred, make sure it’s anywhere in the world but England,” Jorgelina said.
Pressed on why she hated the city so much, Jorgelina reeled off a list, including the aforementioned food: “I didn’t like it at all… I can tell you. People are all weird. You walk around and you don’t know if they’re going to kill you. The food is disgusting. The women look like porcelain.
“Angel and I were in Madrid, at the best team in the world, perfect food, perfect weather, everything was perfect. And then came United’s proposal…”
