Film inspires Wilson in his Goal to be a success
CALLUM Wilson finds the film Goal! ‘inspirational’ because the Newcastle United striker worked his way up from the bottom to ‘get to this point.’
The film’s protagonist Santiago Munez - played by Kuno Becker (inset) – is a Mexican illegal immigrant living in Los Angeles who goes on trial with Newcastle and later fires the Magpies into the Champions League.
Goal!, which was followed by two sequels, has proved popular around the world.
Papiss Cisse, Jonas Gutierrez, Isaac Hayden, Kenedy and Islam Slimani are just some of the players who have referenced the film when they have spoken about the attraction of moving to Newcastle in years gone by – and Wilson is no different.
The England striker previously watched Goal! with his son Oritse and the 28-year-old admitted the film got the ‘little boy’ inside of him excited and made him think ‘that is the one for me’ when it came to a move to St James’ Park.
Wilson said: “The film is inspirational in terms of the journey.
“That is what I liked because I was basically at the bottom and worked my way up to get to this point.
“I am just waiting for the fans to get back.
“I was disappointed scoring two at St
James’ Park with no fans there. Technically, one of them could have been a potential winner and you want to be celebrating that like it is a match-winner in a full house.
“I am just waiting for that time when the fans are back in and it is packed again - it will only elevate my performance, definitely.”
Wilson became the first Newcastle player since Les Ferdinand, a quarter of a century ago, to score four goals in his first four Premier League games for the club following his £20m move from Bournemouth.