Trattoria Il Calcio is controlled by local businessman Valentin Salagean and former soccer players Gino Iorgulescu and Cosmin Olaroiu.
“Ancelotti is interested in a partnership with us. We could open [a restaurant] in Italy, in Milan. A location remains to be found, and we must decide on financing,” the chain’s General Manager, Mugur Stancu, told Business Standard.
Trattoria Il Calcio recently announced it plans to enter the Spanish market, by opening a location along the Spanish coast.
“I am especially interested in a partnership for image purposes, because Ancelotti is famous,” Salagean said.
Other companies on the market with plans to expand abroad are Trotter Prim, which controls the City Grill and City Cafe chains and the Caru’ cu bere restaurant, Italian Buongiorno restaurant chain and Turabo Cafe chain.
Trattoria Il Calcio currently has 10 locations in Romania, of which eight are in Bucharest, and some 250 employees.
