Forward Erling Haaland has declined Netflix’s proposal to produce a documentary series about the art of goal-scoring to maintain his personal privacy.
According to the British newspaper Sportmail, Netflix has been attracted by the success of “Quarterback” – an eight-episode series released in July 2023, which introduced the lives of three NFL quarterbacks during the 2022 season.
“Quarterback” meticulously captured the lives of NFL stars Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins, and Marcus Mariota, showcasing intimate moments with family, friends, and coaches both on and off the field. They have also announced plans for the second season of “Quarterback,” titled “Receiver,” set to premiere this summer.
Therefore, Netflix aims to produce a documentary series with similar content focusing on football forwards, specifically the art of goal-scoring. This series is expected to provide a comprehensive behind-the-scenes look, similar to “Quarterback,” revealing deep insights into the lives of top forwards. One of the targets is Erling Haaland. However, Haaland is reported to have declined the opportunity when approached. According to Goal, he wants to keep his personal secrets, which marks a significant setback for filmmakers as he is a leading forward in the Premier League.
Haaland has previously scored 29 goals in 27 matches for Salzburg and 86 goals in 89 matches for Dortmund. The Norwegian forward joined Man City last season for $63 million and immediately excelled. He scored 52 goals in 53 matches across all competitions, helping Man City secure three Champions League titles, the Premier League, the FA Cup, and numerous records. This season, despite missing ten matches due to a foot injury, Haaland still managed to score 29 goals across all competitions, including 18 in the Premier League and six in the Champions League.
Netflix has also approached Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah with a similar proposal to Haaland, but this duo has not made a final decision yet. In the Premier League this season, Watkins has scored 16 goals and provided 10 assists in 29 matches, while Salah has scored 15 goals and provided nine assists in 22 matches.
Arsenal – the current Premier League leaders – currently has no players within Netflix’s scope. Bukayo Saka is Arsenal’s top scorer with 13 goals in the Premier League.
If the series about Premier League forwards proceeds, filming is expected to begin at the start of the 2024-2025 season in August, with the release date scheduled for autumn 2025. This proposed documentary series will contribute to the recent surge in football-themed documentary series.
Amazon Prime’s documentary series “All or Nothing” leads in this field, providing in-depth insights into famous football clubs worldwide, including Man City, Tottenham, Arsenal in the Premier League, Juventus in Serie A, and national teams such as Brazil and Germany.