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Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca swung by a little Italian restaurant in Salford which has fast become a favourite among the football club’s stars.

Vero Moderno in Salford is known for its rustic Italian menu with a contemporary twist - and its warm welcome from Italian owner Beppe Piccoli and his team. It has become a regular haunt of almost the entire Manchester City squad.

Maresca is just the latest in a long-line of Blues who have been spotted at the Italian. Players including Jack Grealish, Ruben Dias, Erling Haaland, Aymeric Laporte and Rodri have all dined there in the past.

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The Salford spot regularly posts photos of the stars who join them and this was no exception. The restaurant took to social media sharing a snap of the City manager with the caption, welcoming him back: “Bentornato a casa Mister Maresca!

“It was a real pleasure to welcome back Mister Enzo Maresca and we wish you all the very best for the season ahead!

“Team Vero Moderno” with the football emoji and the Italian flag emoji.

Later on the official Manchester City page commented: “The lads” with a salute emoji, showing the team’s love and appreciation for the spot.

Maresca is no stranger to the restaurant, frequenting the neighbourhood Italian during his previous stints at the club. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, owner Beppe Piccoli said that Maresca remembered numerous members of staff by name from his past visits.

Beppe said: “We have a lot of long-standing members of staff and he was a regular at the time so we are very grateful to him for remembering us. It really does mean a lot.”

He told the M.E.N that the visit came during his first week back in Manchester as the squad returned from their holidays and time at the World Cup. Beppe, originally from Rome, piled praise on the City manager.

He said: “He is a very nice guy, very generous and polite…And it’s not just because he is Italian, he actually really is a great guy. For him to remember the chef and the staff, go back to the kitchen and thank them for their food and service is just great for us.”

During his time at the club, the restaurant also became popular with Mareca’s predecessor Pep Guardiola. The former manager visited the Italian in 2024, with Vero Moderna sharing a photo on its Instagram saying: "Always a great honour to have the Man City boss drop by; doing our bit to keep his genius mind in tip top shape!

"World class manager and a world class guy."

But when followers have asked in the past what the players like to eat the owners reply: "We are sworn to secrecy".

It is not only City stars who are flocking to the spot, from Coronation Street to Hollyoaks, numerous soap stars have dined there over the years.