Ilkay Gundogan is close to returning to Manchester City from Barcelona as negotiations are currently taking place between the two clubs to finalize the deal.
However, this news may not be welcomed by his wife Sara, who will have to once again endure the less-than-ideal culinary options in Manchester that she previously complained about.
What happened?
The ex-Manchester City star IIkay Gundogan left the club for Barcelona last summer on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract after he had captained City to an historic Treble.
And now, Manchester City are keen to sign the German on a one-year contract with the option for an additional year although there would be no fee between the two sides.
The 33-year-old German wants to return to Pep Guardiola’s City and has ignored interest from Saudi Arabia and Qatar to make the move happen.
However, this transfer would be a great disappointment for Gundogan’s stunning wife Sara.
Ilkay Gundogan wife comment about Manchester’s food
The French born model would be disappointed and reluctant to return to Manchester after citing the city’s subpar food scene as her primary concern.
Sara took to Instagram in 2022 to vent her frustrations, leaving fans and foodies alike stunned.
Sara’s harsh critique of Manchester’s dining options portrayed a grim outlook, as the model bemoaned the scarcity of top-notch restaurants offering delicious and genuine dishes.
The French born model wrote on her Instagram in 2022: “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… everything frozen.
“Restaurants here are focus on making money with drinks and shots like nightclubs, not quality food. Maybe in London but in Manchester nothing. I’m sorry.
“Nothing but horrible food everywhere,” she wrote, adding that her searches for decent Italian or sushi restaurants ended in vain.”
Sara’s expressed desire to return to Manchester City despite her previous comment
Sara, in an interview with the Daily Mail in February expressed her desire to return to Manchester despite previously criticizing the food in the city.
She revealed that her time in Manchester revolved around football and the friends she made through her husband.
She said: “When I was in Manchester, my whole life was [originally] around football. My friends were football, the people I met through my husband, and then I didn’t have anything that was just my world outside of that.”
“And I’m a social person, so it took me a bit of time, but I made friends and it was really nice. After making friends, I was really happy. I had my own life and routine in Manchester and I have one of my best friends there.”
Sara mentioned that she made some close friends in Manchester and now misses the city and the people she left behind.
Sara added: “It’s always sad, especially because you make friends, you’re happy somewhere, you build your life and then you have to leave all the people you love. I started to enjoy everything and I kind of miss Manchester now.”
Who is IIkay Gundogan’s wife Sara?
Sara Arfaoui is 29-year-old TV presenter and model with a strong social media presence.
The stunning model often delights her 875,000 Instagram followers with glamorous photos of herself.
She was born in France in 1995 but she moved to Italy with her family and has since established herself as a successful figure in the entertainment industry, particularly known for her presenting work on Rai 1.
IIkay Gundogan and his wife Sara
French model Sara Arfaoui and German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan have been together since 2016 after meeting through mutual friends.
The couple’s relationship has developed over the years, with a timeline that includes making their relationship public in 2017, an engagement in 2018 during a Paris getaway, and a private wedding ceremony in Germany in 2019.
They officially tied the knot in Denmark and later celebrated with a lavish wedding at Lake Como in Italy in May 2022. In March of the following year, the couple welcomed their first child, Kais.
IIkay Gundogan stint at Manchester City
Having arrived at City in 2016 from Borussia Dortmund, Gundogan is thrilled at the opportunity to contribute to Manchester City’s continued success, especially after their impressive start to the 2024/25 Premier League season, which hints at a promising campaign ahead.
During his tenure at City, IIkay Gundogan made 304 appearances and netted 60 goals, while also clinching 12 major trophies like five Premier League titles and the Champions League.
As the Gundogan family readies themselves to reunite with Manchester City, Sara’s concerns about the city’s culinary offerings have created uncertainty about whether the model will truly be content upon her return.
Will Manchester’s culinary delights win her over, or will Sara’s sadness prevail? What’s your take on this? Please, share your thoughts in the opinion box.
