Ex-Southampton player and Italy international Dani Osvaldo reveals he’s battling depression and addictions in an emotional video posted.
The 38 year old said via Instagram that he is losing control of his life, as he opened up about his struggles with drugs, alcohol, and depression.
Osvaldo became Southampton’s club-record signing back in 2013 after making a £13 million move from Roma.
His time with the then-Premier League club was marked by controversy, including a ban for his involvement in a touchline altercation against Newcastle and a club suspension following a training ground incident with teammate Jose Fonte.
Osvaldo only managed to score three goals in 13 appearances for the Saints before being loaned out three times and eventually having his contract terminated in 2015.
After leaving Southampton, he went on to play for the likes of Porto, Boca Juniors, and Banfield before retiring in 2020.
In a recent Instagram video, he has shared how his life has taken a downward spiral and is now making a public cry for help.
🙏 El grito desesperado de Daniel Osvaldo: “La vida se me está yendo de las manos” pic.twitter.com/d3QX5DUs4R
— Diario AS (@diarioas) March 14, 2024
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“It’s hard for me to make this video because I’ve never done anything like this before,” he says.
“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.
“I’m undergoing psychiatric treatment and taking medication. I have a very specific illness. Lack of self-esteem, depression. I often fall back into my addictions.
“Out of anger I end up self-destructing, and this also affects the people around me. It’s often difficult to get out of this situation and I isolate myself from the people I love. It’s very difficult for me to move on.
“I practically live alone, locked up at home. I don’t go out anywhere, I don’t do anything productive with my life and sometimes I don’t even feel like getting out of bed.
“Sometimes I don’t even feel like taking a shower. I’ve fallen into very ugly addictions that only make my depression grow more and more.
“It has made me distance myself from people who loved me very much, who love me very much, who I also loved and love very much.
“And that makes me not want to see my family, not want to share things with my children.”
Osvaldo continued: “The anger I feel towards the world and towards many people has to do with me, my illness, my lack of self-esteem, my depression and my bad decisions.
“I was an elite footballer. I was a completely different person, full of security, confidence, and I’m a person I don’t recognize.
“I still don’t understand how I got here, honestly, but it can happen to anyone. I don’t have a stable job, I’ve spent practically all my savings because, as I have no income, money doesn’t last forever.
“But that’s the least of it, because I’ve never been interested in money. I was born poor and I could die poor, and that doesn’t matter to me.
“What hurts me most is that I’m getting poorer in my soul and I’ve always been a good friend and a good companion. I wanted to be a good father, although I often didn’t succeed.”
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OSVALDO’S CAREER:
Youth career
1995–1999 – Lanús
1999–2000 – Banfield
2000–2005 – Huracán
Senior career
2005 – Huracán – 33 games (11 goals)
2006 – Atalanta – 3 games (1 goal)
2006–2007 – Lecce – 32 games (8 goals)
2007–2009 – Fiorentina – 38 games (6 goals)
2009–2010 – Bologna – 26 games (3 goals)
2010–2011 – Espanyol – 46 games (21 goals)
2011–2013 – Roma – 58 games (30 goals)
2013–2015 – Southampton – 13 games (3 goals)
2014 → Juventus (loan) – 18 games (3 goals)
2015–2016 – Porto – 12 games (1 goals)
2014–2015 → Internazionale (loan) – 19 games (7 goals)
2015-2016 – Boca Juniors – 22 games (7 goals)
2020 – Banfield
Total – 320 games (99 goals)
International career
2007–2008 – Italy U21 – 12 games (2 goals)
2011–2014 – Italy – 14 games (4 goals)
Twitter users reacted as ex-Southampton player Dani Osvaldo reveals he’s battling depression and addictions in an emotional video…
@Dan_dan_COYS: Proof that having money and even being a successful footballer doesn’t make you immune to depression.
@relja996: What a player he was. Such a complete striker, on his day he was literally unstoppable. His consistency was poor but he was so quality ability wise.
@baggio177: Liked this guy as a player and hope the best for him. Hope he pulls through
@conmanspurs: Wow respect for keeping it real, not many share how dark things can be. Hope he finds peace in this world.
@DaNgreg78: Something must be in place for ex professional football players to help with these conditions.
@TKIRBY0707: What a player he was sad how it ended at saints a reminder to check on your mates no matter how happy they seem though
@RhysMorgan2015: Hope he gets the support he needs ❤️
@matt_Mcmanus9: Sad to seee he was a great player
@GarethSweet4: As someone has been through the same, I really hope he gets the support he needs. It’s horrible.
@SFCTree: Awful – Hope he can get the help he needs and make a full recovery
@danjarvis91: Hope he gets the help and support he needs, brave to speak out on it, wish him well!
@ewanwhite1999: Hope he can find a way out of that situation. It’s good that he’s sharing it, hopefully he’ll get the support that he needs ❤️
@Manutdfan2022: I hope he gets the help that he needs, Depression is a horrible illness and it can lead to many things, I also hope he gets help for his addictions as well
@ElCapitano251: So sad to here someone who brought me a lot of happy moments like this, hope he can get better ❤️
@subseasaint: Wouldn’t wish this on anyone, hopefully he can get the help he needs
@sfctoby: Stay strong GOAT
@pepperboxcallum: Best of luck Dani x
@JJHughes_: Very sad. Hope Dani gets the help he needs and overcomes. #SaintsFC
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