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'Who would have imagined that we would be preparing our food for professional football players'
A popular Manchester sandwich shop which already has a deep affinity for Manchester City FC was tasked with feeding the entire football squad following their victorious match at the weekend.
On Sunday (April 19), Pep Guardiola’s team reigned supreme at a match against Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in front of 50,000 fans. The 2-1 game saw Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland both score goals.
Riding high on their victory, the team were welcomed in with a schiacciata platter of Italian-inspired sandwiches from Ad Maiora, which has a café on Tib Street in the Northern Quarter. Starting life as a bakery inside a Manchester flat in 2023 by couple Daniela Steri and Enrico Pinn, they have become known for their creations using Tuscan-style flatbreads and premium Italian meats and cheeses.
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In three years, their cult-like following has also included celebrities and sports stars, with rock band Enter Shikari popping in just last week following an intimate gig in Manchester. They also have built up a relationship with some of Manchester City’s famous faces like Mateo Kovacic and Phil Foden.
City striker Haaland has become such a fan of the shop that he now even has a sandwich named after him featuring some of his favourite things, like parma ham, pistachios, Burrata, and truffle oil.
Owners Daniela and Enrico said they were invited back to cater to the club for the fifth time in the space of two years - heading over to the Etihad following the match for an ‘even more special’ meal, which they worked on alongside City’s team of nutritionists.
“This is the fifth time in the past two years that we’ve prepared food for them, so we’ve built a strong connection over time,” Enrico told the M.E.N. “But this one was different - the importance of the win, the atmosphere around it, and knowing we were there right after such a big result made it a really proud moment for us.
“Meeting the players was an incredible experience - especially meeting Donnarumma, captain of the Italian national team, as well as Pep Guardiola and Haaland. It was truly emotional for us. We also dedicated a special sandwich to Haaland, made with ingredients personally chosen by him, which made the moment even more unique.
“Beyond the players, we also had the chance to meet the entire staff behind Manchester City, which gave us a deeper appreciation of the work and professionalism that goes on behind the scenes. We would also like to thank the team’s nutritionist for giving us this incredible opportunity and for continuing to trust us.”
Enrico said that it was an especially humbling moment coming just three years after he and Daniela decided to take their love for sandwiches seriously. Their café has since been nominated at the UK Italian Awards and the This is Manchester awards, and was also the recipient of the Rising Star prize at the Deliveroo Restaurant Awards last year.
He said: “For a business like ours, which started by making sandwiches in a small flat in the Northern Quarter, who would have imagined that just three years later we would have a shop on Tib Street that is giving us so much satisfaction - and that we would be preparing our food for professional football players.
“But honestly, every single player and member of staff was amazing and made the experience unforgettable. For us, it’s more than just making sandwiches — it’s about being part of moments like these, even behind the scenes.”
Ad Maiora is on 84 Tib St, Manchester M4 1LG.
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