Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Southampton v Manchester City - St Mary's
Southampton's Dani Osvaldo (left) scores past Manchester City's defenders Pablo Zabaleta and Martin Demichelis (26) during the Barclays Premier League match at St Mary's Stadium, Southampton. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday December 7, 2013. See PA story SOCCER Southampton. Photo credit should read: Chris Ison/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. Maximum 45 images during a match. No video emulation or promotion as 'live'. No use in games, competitions, merchandise, betting or single club/player services. No use with unofficial audio, video, data, fixtures or club/league logos. (Image: undefined)
Dani Osvaldo, the footballer known for his long locks, beard, ink-adorned skin, and penchant for flamboyant hats and jewellery, often garners comparisons to Johnny Depp's iconic portrayal of Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean.
Beyond just appearance, Osvaldo shares similarities with the Hollywood star—he's had a string of high-profile romances, plays music in a band and is fond of the occasional cigarette. Echoing the controversy of pirate Jack Sparrow, Osvaldo has made waves both on and off the field.
The retired Argentine-Italian footballer's colourful career which earned him the nickname "El Loco" (The Crazy One) is one which is largely unrivalled by many fellow footballers of recent eras.
His career started quietly enough; born in Argentina, Osvaldo kicked off his professional football with Huracan before heading to Italy after just one season.
His stint in Italy from 2006 to 2010 saw him join Atalanta, Lecce, Fiorentina, and Bologna. He then caught the eye of Mauricio Pochettino at Espanyol where he stood out during his time in Spain.
Yet, it was a memorable celebration in 2008 whilst playing for Fiorentina against Juventus that would define his infamous reputation. After scoring, he celebrated by taking off his shirt and mimicking gunfire towards his own supporters, earning him a second yellow card and an early trip to the showers.
His £13 million move to Roma, however, is where his antics truly spiralled out of control. Erik Lamela, the former Tottenham hotshot, can vouch for Osvaldo's explosive temper - after a 2-0 defeat by Udinese in November 2011, Osvaldo reportedly earned himself a hefty fine and suspension for socking Lamela right in the changing room.
Dani Osvaldo, wearing glasses, a black fedora hat, black jacket and jeans, smiles as he poses for the camera during a TV event
ROME, ITALY - MARCH 28: Pablo Daniel Osvaldo, aka Dani Osvaldo, attends the photocall for "Ballandro Con Le Stelle (Dancing with the Stars)" at RAI Auditorium on March 28, 2019 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Elisabetta A. Villa/Getty Images) (Image: Elisabetta A. Villa/Getty Images)
Osvaldo was obviously miffed when his former mate on the pitch didn't pass the ball, but later he tried to quell the drama, insisting: "The thing with Lamela was just the passion of the moment. I can be really annoying when it comes to this, as I always want the ball and admit I am as egotistical as most strikers.
"This incident, though, really was nothing. If I had Lamela's left foot then I wouldn't have passed the ball either."
Still, Osvaldo's vexing behaviour hardly stopped. The year 2012 saw him becoming infamous for racking up a total of five red cards across club and international play, even facing jeers from his own supporters.
The argumentative footballer notably clashed with Roma icon Francesco Totti over a controversial penalty that turned sour, accusing Totti of snatching the chance right from under him. Adding insult to injury, Osvaldo backed out of a pre-season tour in America citing illness, only to be spotted in London enjoying a romantic outing with his new flame during the time he was banned from the Lazio derby – hardly the epitome of team camaraderie.
In a time of upheaval, Osvaldo ended his relationship with Elena Braccini, the mother of two of his children, and embarked on a romance with Argentine actress and singer Jimena Baron. On Sport Mediaset, Braccini divulged: "When I met Dani he was pure. Then the success got him dirty. The fame, the money, the wrong people who even sucked his blood.
"He's not bad, he's not crazy either. He's just a man who's so weak, he does not know who really loved him and who screwed him."
Osvaldo's chapter at Roma concluded amid discord after he berated caretaker manager Aurelio Andreazzoli for only allowing him 15 minutes of game time during the Italian Cup final.
Footballers Dani Osvaldo (left, wearing a full red T-shirt and shorts) and John O'Shea (right, wearing yellow T-shirt and blue s
Southampton's Dani Osvaldo (left) and Sunderland's John O'Shea battle for the ball during the Barclays Premier League match St Mary's, Southampton. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 24, 2013. See PA story SOCCER Southampton. Photo credit should read: Clive Gee/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. Maximum 45 images during a match. No video emulation or promotion as 'live'. No use in games, competitions, merchandise, betting or single club/player services. No use with unofficial audio, video, data, fixtures or club/league logos. (Image: Clive Gee/PA Wire)
Taking to social media, Osvaldo slammed Andreazzoli, stating: "You'd do more good if you admitted to being incompetent. Go celebrate with Lazio."
His rebuke led to his exclusion from Italy’s Confederations Cup team in Brazil.
However, Osvaldo found reprieve with Southampton, which forked out £12.8m for his talents, making him Pochettino's protégé once again. He experienced some memorable moments at St Mary's, such as a remarkable lob goal against Manchester City.
Nevertheless, certain behaviours from Osvaldo marred his accomplishments; he narrowly avoided a red card in his debut due to committing a couple of fouls deemed alarming.
A few months on, an overzealous reaction to a challenge in a match against Newcastle landed him a three-match ban and a hefty £40,000 fine for violent conduct. Yet, the most serious episode was yet to unfold.
Just three weeks later, Osvaldo caused a stir by headbutting team captain Jose Fonte during a training ground scuffle, leaving the Portuguese defender with a black eye. This heated altercation resulted in a two-week suspension for breaching club conduct rules, and he was docked two weeks' wages.
Osvaldo's once promising career trajectory took a nosedive after a string of loan spells at Juventus and Inter Milan, where he had further run-ins with manager Roberto Mancini, formerly of Manchester City, and teammate Mauro Icardi.
His subsequent moves saw him return to his former club Boca Juniors and a brief stint at Porto, but his fiery nature reared its head again, leading to an abrupt departure from Boca after just three games; he was caught smoking in the changing room by coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto.
In August 2016, at the age of 30, Osvaldo made the unconventional choice to exchange football for music, forming a band called Barrio Viejo in Barcelona, drawing on connections from his time at Espanyol.
When quizzed by Gazzetta dello Sport about his unexpected early retirement, Osvaldo revealed his preference for a laid-back lifestyle over financial gain: "I decided to quit at Boca, there was too much gossip. I couldn't go out, I was afraid of people. I couldn't do it any more. I had offers from China and clubs in the Champions League, but I was detached."
Osvaldo candidly remarked: "I was beginning to hate what I'd always loved. Football deserves respect, and I prefer asado [Argentine barbecue] and beer to money."
After hanging up his boots, Osvaldo kept himself in the limelight mostly through his high-profile love life. He notably had a fleeting romance with singer Militta Bora following his breakup from Jimena.
In September 2018, a rift emerged when Jimena openly accused him of neglecting his financial duties towards their son and lambasted him for indulging in an extravagant three-month European holiday while she cared for their child solo.
AS Roma's Argentinian forward Pablo Daniel Osvaldo gets ready to shoot during an Italian Serie A football match between AS Roma
AS Roma's Argentinian forward Pablo Daniel Osvaldo gets ready to shoot during an Italian Serie A football match between AS Roma and Siena on April 28, 2013 at the Olympic stadium in Rome. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images) (Image: Gabriel Bouys/AFP via Getty Images)
Upon his return, controversy didn't escape Osvaldo; he faced backlash for posting a video of himself driving with their son Momo on his lap, hands on the wheel. However, in a forthright interview with Marca, Osvaldo expressed no remorse for his lifestyle choices and shared his perspective on fame and luxury.
"Would I like to be like Messi? No. I'd like to play like him, but he has no life. It's as if he lives in a golden prison," Osvaldo declared. "He couldn't go somewhere and quietly drink something. Maybe he doesn't care about it, but I do."
Defying expectations once more, in 2019 Osvaldo surprised everyone by competing in Ballando con le Stelle, Italy's version of Strictly Come Dancing, where he impressively finished in third place.
Then, in a shock twist, he briefly stepped out of retirement in 2020 to play for Argentine outfit Banfield. He came off the bench against River Plate and nearly scored a sensational goal from 30 yards, only for it to fly just over the bar.
After the match, he shared his feelings, stating: "I am very happy, in Banfield they treat me very well and make me feel important."
However, four years on, his story took a poignant turn when he bravely revealed his battle with depression in what he described as a "cry for help". In an honest Instagram video, he disclosed: "It's hard for me to make this video because I've never done anything like this before. But I think the time has come because I'm quite desperate and I'm not doing well.
Dani Osvaldo and his dance partner Veera Kinnunen show their third place trophy
ROME, ITALY - MAY 31: Former soccer player Dani Osvaldo and his dance partner Veera Kinnunen show their third place trophy at the Ballando Con Le Stelle (Dancing with the stars) tv show on May 31, 2019 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Elisabetta Villa/Getty Images) (Image: Elisabetta Villa/Getty Images)
"I don't know if it's a cry for help or if I just feel the need to talk about it because I've been dealing with a lot of depression for a long time. This depression made me fall into some addictions – alcohol and drugs. And the truth is that I'm at a point where my life is slipping out of my hands."
Support swiftly followed, with particularly heartfelt words from former Roma colleague Daniele De Rossi, who pledged he'll "forever be here" for him, and encouragement from Leandro Paredes, an Argentina international, who imparted: "Come on Dani dear! Strength everything is going to be fine'."
Osvaldo now presents a rugged yet hopeful image, embracing each day while acknowledging his own limitations. While the chants of fans from the terraces have ceased, they now cheer for him in concert halls.