)
The controversial former Danish striker has opened up on his chaotic off-pitch incidents during his career, including the time he fell out with his father after being given a significant pay rise at Arsenal.
Nicklas Bendtner has opened up about his football career, lifestyle, and personal challenges in a new three-part documentary titled "Nicklas Bendtner - The Portrait," set to air on ViaPlay on Monday.
The documentary reveals interesting facets of the former Arsenal striker's life, including his wage increase from £400 to £10,000 per week after a successful loan spell at Birmingham City.
The 36-year-old retired from professional football in 2020, concluding his career at FC Copenhagen after a 14-year journey that included stints at various clubs such as Arsenal, Birmingham, Sunderland, Juventus, Wolfsburg, and Nottingham Forest.
Known for his colorful personality, Bendtner earned the nickname 'Lord Bendtner' from Arsenal fans and famously claimed to be 'one of the best strikers in the world.'
)
11:22 - 19.01.2024
FOOTBALL Victor Osimhen and the 15 minutes that saved his career
Nigerian legend Emmanuel Amunike has revealed how 15 minutes saw Victor Osimhen go from an unknown kid into the global superstar he is today
The documentary explores Bendtner's rise through Arsenal's academy, his impactful loan at Birmingham City, and his subsequent successes and challenges.
Liam Brady, a former Arsenal player, comments on Bendtner's behavior, stating that his partying and drinking increased as he became more successful.
“The more successful he became, the worse he became,” Bradey is quoted on the documentary’s trailer.
“He thought he could just party and drink.”
Reflecting on his early years, Bendtner acknowledges the lack of guidance and consequences for his actions, expressing the need for a supportive structure during his rapid rise in football.
)
14:30 - 01.02.2024
FOOTBALL Throwback : How Liverpool icon Mo Salah stopped an apocalypse in Egypt
The story of how Mo Salah ended a long crisis in Egypt season with two critical moments.
He mentions self-discovery and coping mechanisms that may not have been the most appropriate in the context of his football career.
“When things go as fast as they did for me, there is a golden opportunity to take hold of a young lad and try to put some framework in place.
“But everyone just let me do what suited me. No one said no, no one gave me consequences. That made it difficult. Deep down, I knew I wasn't where I should be.
“When at the same time I have a personality where I want to experience the world - taste it all and try a lot of different things - then it would have been healthy if someone had helped me to reduce it.
“Somehow, I taught myself what made me happy when I was sad.
)
21:00 - 25.01.2024
FOOTBALL Throwback: When Chelsea legend Didier Drogba took 59 seconds to help end a civil war in Ivory Coast
Remniscing the time Didier Drogba stopped a civil war in Ivory Coast.
“But in relation to football, it was perhaps not always the most appropriate things I did."
He would go on to score some important goals for Arsenal, with the 2009-10 season perhaps being his best for the club, netting 12 times including one of his best strikes for the Gunners - his goal against Blackburn Rovers at The Emirates.
By the time he had left Arsenal, Bendtner had fallen out of favour, had made some massive claims about his own ability and had struggled on loan at Sunderland and Juventus.
He'd go on to join Copenhagen towards the end of his career, with the forward revealing in 2019 that his agent had told him to accept a quite-unique clause in his contract. .
Reflecting on his career during the documentary, the former Denmark international also stated that he once fell out with his father, Thomas, over money.
)
13:27 - 27.01.2024
FOOTBALL Emmanuel Adebayor cautious his birthday has been jinxing Arsenal’s title chances in previous years
Adebayor shed light on why Arsenal always tend to collapse in the race for the title from mid-february, expressing caution his birthday could have something to do with it.
While he explained that he didn't want to go into too much detail on the incident, he added that he should have kept family separate from his business affairs.
His father had worked as his advisor at one point during his career, but Bendtner revealed they once fell out over his jewelry company.
“There are many things in it, because it is an inflamed relationship, but I do not want to go into it in more detail,” he said during the documentary.
“He [Bendtner's father] also declined to be part of the documentary, so out of respect I will keep it more general.
)
07:00 - 29.01.2024
FOOTBALL Osimen explains how Divock Origi, Mario Gomez shaped him to become elite striker
Osimhen has explained how Origi and ex-Bayern striker Mario Gomez shaped him to become the striker he is now.
“Looking back, we definitely should have kept family and work roles separate.
“There were no bad intentions behind it.
“We tried to do what we felt was right, but none of us were smart enough to know the difference, or the outcome.”
He continued: “He was my father, best friend and confidant. I had a fantastic childhood.
“So, a completely fantastic childhood with some fantastic parents who have been very supportive, driving me to football and all that stuff.”
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)