Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Nadal and Enrique Iglesias bring Ibiza restaurant Zela to London

The team behind a new restaurant backed by Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Nadal and Enrique Iglesias said they chose London as the location because the city has “the hottest culinary scene in the world”.

Cult Ibizan restaurant Zela is opening its first restaurant outside the White Isle in the ME London Hotel in Aldwych in two weeks — with all its celebrity investors making plans to attend the opening.

The all-day dining restaurant, which will serve a fusion of Japanese and Mediterranean food, is owned by MABEL Hospitality, led by Spanish entrepreneurs Manuel Campos Guallar and Abel Matutes. They also own Spanish restaurant chain TATEL, which has sites in Madrid, Ibiza and Miami. They told the Standard that Portuguese footballer Ronaldo and tennis star Nadal were keen to open their next venture in London.

Mr Matutes said: “The food scene is the best, the hottest in the world. It had to be here. London is the perfect place to bring the Ibiza concept to. All of our backers are very involved and are real foodie guys. Cristiano and Rafael in particular love London.”

Michelin-starred chef Ricardo Sanz is gastronomic director, and will include dishes that combine Japanese techniques and flavours using Mediterranean products and traditions.

Mr Matutes said the two sportsmen had been particularly involved in the menu as “their lifestyle means they eat in a certain way and they like this style of healthy food”.