TAIYUAN, CHINA - OCTOBER 06: Italian former footballer Roberto Baggio reacts during a football ... [+]
Fans of Serie A football have reason to get excited as Netflix announced a partnership with Italian company Mediaset, an agreement which will bring a documentary on Roberto Baggio to worldwide subscribers next year.
The legendary forward and 1993 Ballon d’or winner made 56 appearances for Italy, scoring a total of 27 goals. In 2002, he became the first Italian player in over 30 years to score more than 200 times as he starred in the number 10 role for both Milan clubs, Fiorentina, Juventus, Bologna and Brescia.
If it wasn’t for a series of knee problems, this player could have been even more successful, and he is also remembered for a penalty miss in the 1994 World Cup final versus Brazil. “I still don’t sleep well because of my mistake from the spot,” Baggio told Sky Sport Italia earlier this year.
“It’s an unpleasant situation, which can serve as a lesson. I’d always dreamt of playing a World Cup Final against Brazil and making up for the one lost in 1970. However, dreaming is one thing and reality is another. I’d always dreamt of a different final.”
Yet this hasn’t affected the status of Baggio as one of the greatest ever Serie A strikers, and one of the most popular ever to pull on an Azzurri shirt.
The film, titled “Il Divin Codino” (the divine ponytail) after his famous nickname, will be aired on free-to-air Italian TV one year after its run on Netflix. It is one of just seven that have been commissioned by this new partnership, which was announced in Rome on Wednesday.
"This is a trial agreement that will cover seven films and is the first step forward in a world that must not have barriers and that wants to enhance what we do in Italy," revealed Alessandro Salem, director of Mediaset content, at the event.
"We think that these alliances between big TV operators, that focus on original content, are one of the most effective responses to the great changes taking place in the media industry."
The Baggio film will be made by director Letizia Lamartire, and will document some of the difficult times at the beginning of the forward’s career, as well as some personal differences with various coaches.
"I am very happy to have the opportunity to undertake such an exciting challenge, which is to share the story of one of the greatest legends of Italian football and bring a female point of view to history,” revealed Lamartire. “I want to tell the story of Roberto Baggio and this partnership allows me to show the world his whole life, not just his football career.”
Netflix can really benefit from a player that is still hugely popular not just in Italy, but all around the world. Many grew up idolising this supremely talented striker, and would relish the chance to relive his career in this way.
Indeed, Baggio was given a hero’s welcome as he observed a recent friendly match between Bologna and Real Madrid former legends, as the Rossoblu celebrated their 110th anniversary this week.
Perhaps the worst thing about the Netflix announcement is having to wait for the film to come out!
