The Bayern Munich forward has been vilified for his display of wealth in Dubai but that ire would be better directed at the excesses of the game rather than those who play it
In his book This One’s On Me Jimmy Greaves describes the pre-match meals of his playing days in the 1960s. At West Ham it was all down to Moody’s cafe for a full roast dinner and apple crumble for pudding. As an England player Greaves records, with some reverence, the pre-match habits of Gordon Banks, who in line with the sports science of the day would prepare himself for a game with a huge steak served with both boiled and roast potatoes, all washed down with “a large bowl of rice pudding”.
Looking back now it is probably a good thing social media wasn’t around in the mid-60s. It isn’t hard to imagine the wider response to such wanton displays of starch-based excess. Banks Flaunts Roast Riches. Soccer Ace in Boiled AND Roasted Shame. Potato Bae: Gloveman Rocked By Double-Spud storm.
Written by Barney Ronay
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2019/jan/12/franck-ribery-gold-leaf-steak-bayern-munich-salt-bae under the title “Can Franck Ribéry not have his gold-leaf steak and eat it? | Barney Ronay”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
