Maverick who scored vs Man City headbutted teammates, smoked after games and formed rock band

Dani Osvaldo was compared to Johnny Depp for his looks and lifestyle, but the former Southampton and Roma striker’s off-field antics were even more wild than the Pirates of the Caribbean

Dani Osvaldo, with his distinctive long hair, beard, tattooed skin, extravagant hats and jewellery, has often drawn comparisons to Johnny Depp, particularly Depp’s famed Pirates of the Caribbean character, Jack Sparrow.

Yet, the resemblance to the Hollywood maverick extends beyond just looks. Much like Depp, Osvaldo has a history of high-profile relationships, plays in a band, and is known for enjoying a smoke. And mirroring the swashbuckling Sparrow, he’s no stranger to stirring up a bit of controversy.

Here, MEN explores the retired Argentine-Italian footballer’s escapades that have led to him being dubbed “El Loco” (The Crazy One).

Osvaldo’s early career was relatively uneventful. Born in Argentina, he began his professional footballing life at Huracan before transferring to Italy after a single season.

Between 2006 and 2010, he turned out for Atalanta, Lecce, Fiorentina and Bologna, eventually making his way to Spain to play under Mauricio Pochettino at Espanyol, where he left a lasting impression on the pitch.

His most infamous moment came in 2008 while playing for Fiorentina against Juventus; following a goal, he celebrated by removing his shirt and pretending to shoot his own fans with an imaginary machine gun, which resulted in a second yellow card and his dismissal from the game.

But it was his £13million switch to Roma that saw his antics escalate. Former Tottenham star Erik Lamela can attest to Osvaldo’s fiery temper – in November 2011, after a 2-0 defeat to Udinese, Osvaldo faced a fine and suspension for reportedly punching Lamela in the face in the changing room.

The footballer was clearly irked when his ex-team-mate failed to pass him the ball during the match. He later downplayed the on-field tension, saying: “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.”

However, Osvaldo’s problematic conduct didn’t end there. In 2012, he became notorious for his antics, receiving five red cards in one year while playing for both club and country, even facing boos from his own fans.

The contentious player continued to make headlines, clashing with Roma legend Francesco Totti over a ‘stolen’ penalty after a failed attempt at taking the shot himself. He then withdrew from a pre-season tour in America, claiming sickness, but was subsequently seen in London on a romantic getaway with his new partner during his suspension for the Lazio derby – a move that hardly demonstrated team spirit.

During this tumultuous period, he also split from Elena Braccini, mother of two of his children, and started a relationship with Jimena Baron, an Argentine actress and singer. Reflecting on her history with Osvaldo, Braccini opened up to Sport Mediaset, saying: “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.”

His time at Roma ended in controversy after Osvaldo criticised interim manager Aurelio Andreazzoli, having been left mostly out of play during the Italian Cup final, playing only the last 15 minutes.

On social media, Osvaldo lashed out at Andreazzoli: “You’d do more good if you admitted to being incompetent. Go celebrate with Lazio.” That incident saw him dropped from Italy’s squad for the Confederations Cup in Brazil.

Osvaldo sought and found a new beginning at Southampton, where the club paid £12.8m for his services, bringing him once again under Pochettino’s wing. His tenure at St Mary’s had its highlights, including an astonishing lob against Manchester City.

Yet, some of Osvaldo’s actions cast a shadow over his achievements. He escaped a sending-off on his first appearance for committing two challenge-worthy fouls.

A few months later, an aggressive response to a tackle in a game against Newcastle earned him a three-match suspension and a £40,000 fine for violent conduct. The gravest incident, however, was still on the horizon.

A mere three weeks on, Osvaldo delivered a headbutt to skipper Jose Fonte in a training tussle, leaving the Portuguese with a shiner. The fiery incident led to a two-week suspension for breaching conduct rules and he was fined two weeks’ wages.

Osvaldo’s once bright career trajectory began to dim following a series of loans to Juventus and Inter Milan, where further clashes with manager, and ex-City boss, Roberto Mancini and team-mate Mauro Icardi occurred.

His next ventures took him back to an old haunt at Boca Juniors and a fleeting spell at Porto, but his temper flared again resulting in a premature exit from Boca after just three matches; he was caught by manager Guillermo Barros Schelotto smoking in the changing room.

At just 30 in August 2016, Osvaldo chose to swap the pitch for the stage, setting up a band named Barrio Viejo in Barcelona, tapping into connections from his Espanyol days.

When probed about his surprise decision to hang up his boots early by Gazzetta dello Sport, Osvaldo expressed his predilection for relaxation rather than riches: “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.”

He went on to say: “I was beginning to hate what I’d always loved. Football deserves respect, and I prefer asado [Argentine barbecue] and beer to money.”

Post-football, Osvaldo has maintained his celebrity status, largely through his high-profile romantic relationships. After his split from Jimena, he had a short-lived flingwith singer Militta Bora.

By September 2018, discord surfaced as Jimena publicly accused him of failing to provide financial support for their son and criticised him for taking an extravagant three-month European holiday whilst she took care of their child alone.

When Osvaldo got back, he was swiftly embroiled in controversy; he drew flak for sharing a video where he’s driving with their son Momo on his lap, steering the car. Nonetheless, Osvaldo showed no regrets about his actions during a frank discussion with Marca. He laid out his views on fame and the high life.

“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 said. “He couldn’t go somewhere and quietly drink something. Maybe he doesn’t care about it, but I do.”

Ever unpredictable, in 2019 Osvaldo took everyone by surprise by participating in Ballando con le Stelle, the Italian version of Strictly Come Dancing, securing a commendable third place.

Then, in a surprising move, he momentarily came out of retirement in 2020 to play for Argentine team Banfield. He made an appearance as a sub against River Plate and nearly netted an extraordinary goal from 30 yards out, only for it to be saved just over the bar.

He expressed his contentment post-match, saying: “I am very happy, in Banfield they treat me very well and make me feel important.”

Yet, four years later, his significance surged when he courageously opened up about his depression struggle in a “cry for help”. In a candid Instagram video, he confessed: “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.

“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 poured in quickly, with notable empathy coming from ex-Roma team-mate Daniele De Rossi, who assured he’ll “forever be here” for him, and Leandro Paredes, an Argentina international, who told him: “Come on Dani dear! Strength everything is going to be fine’.”

Osvaldo these days cuts a rugged but hopeful figure, living each day to its fullest while also being aware of his own limitations. Though the fans have stopped chanting his name on the terraces, they are now shouting for him in the concert halls.

Often branded the Johnny Depp of football, could acting be his next wild venture? Or perhaps even an aftershave commercial like Depp? Stranger things have happened.