who is the chef who cooks for them – Corriere.it

From chef in the most exclusive places on the Costa Smeralda to personal chef for footballers. For Giorgio Barone, a Sardinian, the step was not very short. But the passion for food and football was so strong that he suddenly changed his life and, at least during the competitive season, to leave his homeland and move to the home of the player who “hires” him. A new job born with Kevin Prince Boateng (“he would always eat pasta, in all ways and in all ways”) and which then expanded to other protagonists of the world of football. From Aquilani to Buffon, from Morata to Ronaldo, to the brothers Theo and Lucas Hernandez: there are many to whom Barone is linked, and for each one different tastes and menus. «I’m currently in Monaco for Lucas Hernandez, I have an apartment at my disposal and from breakfast to dinner I cook for him and his family» says chef Barone. Which modulates his dishes according to the needs of the athletes. «And not everyone is the same, not everyone can eat the same things. Metabolism always makes the difference. Barone underlines that he is neither a nutritionist nor an expert on diets: «My way of cooking is inevitably light: sweets without sugar, no olive oil but coconut oil. In short, vegan and light dishes».

And that’s how he conquered Cristiano Ronaldo in the two seasons he played for Juventus. «He Your wife Giorgina contacted me, she had gotten my references from her friend Alice, wife of Alvaro Morata. I worked for CR7 and it was a great enrichment, professional and human». What does the Portuguese star eat, today also at the center of so much controversy for the break with United? “Ronaldo is an athlete. Point. I’ve never seen him give in to temptation, he always chooses fish or white meat. He eats lots of vegetables and lots of protein. The avocado accompanies all his dishes ». CR7 without carbs? «Without it, Ronaldo doesn’t touch them, neither pasta nor bread and other types of leavened products. He is very attentive, the only variation he allows himself is the vegan tiramisu that I prepared for him with great care. Without sugar or eggs: he loves them». For Buffon, only menus on vacation. «Even Gigi – says Barone – is attentive to the quality of the food as well as the quantity. I conquered it with my Sardinian piglet. But he is essentially a fish lover. Never tuna for footballers, though. Too fat”. Lucas Hernandez is at the world championship and Barone has some holidays. «Lucas, on the other hand, does not give up on pasta, naturally seasoned lightly and without special sauces. But once a week I have to make him carbonara. One exception to the rule”. When he is at the “service” of a footballer (“never more than one per season” he clarifies) he also cooks breakfast for him. What do they eat? «It depends, Boateng only takes a coffee then eats at the sports center, Morata chooses seasonal fruit, Ronaldo scrambled eggs. And Lucas Hernandez loves pancakes.” There are many other footballers or ex-footballers who have eaten with chef Barone: from Ambrosini to Aquilani (“guys who, even if they have stopped, keep fit and eat properly” he says) a relationship remains with them. In the summer, Barone returns as chef to villas in Sardinia. And it is no coincidence that many players are there on vacation.