Ex-Arsenal and Man City star Bacary Sagna opens up burger restaurant in Paris and reveals love of cooking
ARSENAL icon Bacary Sagna has swapped pitches for patties ... by opening a BURGER RESTAURANT.
The food-loving France international said he used to crave good-quality hamburgers during his time with the Gunners and Manchester City.
Sagna, 37, has ended his playing career after a spell with Club de Foot Montreal.
The right-back is now relishing life after opening the American Tasty Burger eatery in Paris.
He told : "I wanted to do something together with friends. My pals Ben and Feteh had already opened a restaurant, we found a place in northern Paris, and we had to seize the chance.
"I have always liked to cook, but I did not know the food industry.
"When you play football you can't have any cheat days - but sometimes it crosses your mind and you'll take a few liberties.
"I sometimes ate burgers during my playing career, but they were fatty and full of congealed meat.
"When we developed our concept we decided to go with top-quality ingredients. Our burgers are made from French produce.
"The bread is fresh, the meat minced to order and the sauce made in-house every day."
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When asked if he himself was a good cook, Sagna replied: "I can make cheese toasties, pies, pizzas - you name it.
"For dessert I make proper pancakes, crepes and a mean apple crumble.
"When I was a kid I used to help my mum make Thieboudine, Senegal's national dish. She elevated it to an art form."
Sagna, who won the 2014 FA Cup at the end of his seven-year Arsenal stay, said he was inspired by the capital's restaurants.
He recalled: "London was like EuroDisney! The mix of cultures was amazing.
"I remember we used to go to a restaurant that served a fusion of traditional and modern Asian food.
"They had banana and prawn spring rolls, and duck pancakes with a sweet gravy sauce.
"There was also La Creperie de Hampstead, which was an amazing place to go for filled pancakes."
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