Rockstar Premier League striker headbutted teammates, dated celebs and smoked after games

With his flowing locks, beard, inked skin, flamboyant hats and bling, Dani Osvaldo has often been compared to Johnny Depp, especially Depp's iconic Pirates of the Caribbean character Jack Sparrow. But the similarities with the Hollywood wild man don't stop at appearances.

Like Depp, Osvaldo boasts a list of celebrity exes, rocks out in a band and isn't averse to lighting up a cigarette. And akin to the adventurous pirate, he's no stranger to controversy.

Today, we delve into retired Argentine-Italian striker's antics that have earned him the moniker "El Loco" (The Crazy One).

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To be fair, Osvaldo's early career was relatively tame. Born in Argentina, he kicked off his senior football journey at Huracan before heading to Italy after just one season.

From 2006 to 2010, he played for Atalanta, Lecce, Fiorentina and Bologna, then moved to Spain to join Mauricio Pochettino's Espanyol, where he made quite an impression on the field.

His most notorious incident occurred in 2008 while playing for Fiorentina against ; after scoring, he celebrated by taking off his shirt and miming shooting his own supporters with an imaginary machine gun, earning him a second yellow card and a sending-off.

However, it was after his £13m move to Roma that things really started to get wild. Erik Lamela can vouch for Osvaldo's hot-headedness – in November 2011, following a 2-0 loss to Udinese, Osvaldo was fined and suspended for "punching Lamela in the face" in the locker room.

The footballer was visibly miffed that his former teammate hadn't made the pass to him during the game.

Later on, he casually dismissed the on-pitch flare-up, commenting: "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."

But Osvaldo's troublesome behaviour didn't stop there. In 2012, his antics escalated – getting red-carded five times in a single year while playing for both club and national teams, even facing jeers from his own supporters.

There was no slowing down for the controversial figure. He was at odds with Roma icon Francesco Totti over a "stolen" penalty following a botched attempt having taken the ball himself.

Subsequently, he pulled out of a pre-season tour in the US, citing illness, only to be spotted in London on a love trip with his new girlfriend while suspended for the Lazio derby – an absence not exactly showing solidarity with his squad.

In those drama-filled days, he'd also parted ways with Elena Braccini, the mother of two of his kids, and began a relationship with Jimena Baron, an Argentinian actress and singer.

Reflecting on her past with Osvaldo, Braccini shared with Sport Mediaset: "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 tenure at Roma concluded on a sour note after he publicly criticised caretaker manager Aurelio Andreazzoli, who had benched him for the Italian Cup final, only introducing him in the last 15 minutes.

Osvaldo took to X to express his discontent, telling Andreazzoli: "You'd do more good if you admitted to being incompetent. Go celebrate with Lazio."

This outburst led to his exclusion from the Italy squad for the Confederations Cup in Brazil.

Osvaldo was in need of a fresh start, which he found at . The Saints invested £12.8m in the striker, reuniting him with Pochettino. During his time at St Mary's, Osvaldo displayed flashes of brilliance, such as an exquisite lob against .

However, his legacy is more marred by moments of recklessness. He narrowly avoided a red card on his debut, having committed two rash tackles that each warranted a yellow card.

Months later, he received a three-match ban and a £40,000 fine for reacting aggressively to a robust tackle during a match against , with the FA finding him guilty of violent conduct. Nevertheless, the worst incident was yet to come.

A mere three weeks later, Osvaldo headbutted team captain Jose Fonte during a training session, leaving the Portuguese defender with a black eye. He was consequently suspended for two weeks for breaching conduct rules and docked two weeks' wages.

After a turbulent time on loan with Juventus and then Inter Milan, where he clashed with boss Roberto Mancini and teammate Mauro Icardi, Osvaldo's once-promising football career started to fizzle out.

His subsequent moves saw him rekindle ties with his childhood team Boca Juniors and a brief stint at Porto, but things went south when his contract was cut short after just three games back at Boca; manager Guillermo Barros Schelotto found him smoking in the changing room.

In August 2016, aged just 30, Osvaldo hung up his boots, trading football for music by forming a Barcelona-based band named Barrio Viejo with pals he made during his Espanyol days.

Explaining his shocking early retirement to Gazzetta dello Sport, Osvaldo declared a preference for leisure over lucre: "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 , but I was detached."

He added: "I was beginning to hate what I'd always loved. deserves respect, and I prefer asado [Argentine barbecue] and beer to money."

Post-retirement, Osvaldo has managed to stay in the public eye, primarily due to his romantic escapades.

Following his breakup with Jimena, he moved on to a brief romance with songstress Militta Bora. By September 2018, tensions rose as Jimena publicly accused him of neglecting to provide financial support for their son, alongside harsh criticism for embarking on a lavish three-month European getaway while she managed parenting duties solo.

Upon Osvaldo's return, controversy was quick to follow; he faced backlash for posting a video showing him behind the wheel of his car with their son Momo in his lap, hands on the steering wheel.

Despite the turmoil, Osvaldo expressed no remorse when reflecting on his past actions. In a candid chat with Marca, he revealed his perspective on fame and lifestyle.

"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," he said.

"He couldn't go somewhere and quietly drink something. Maybe he doesn't care about it, but I do."

Always one to spring a few surprises, in 2019 Osvaldo danced his way into the public consciousness by competing in the Italian version of , Ballando con le Stelle. He finished a respectable third in the competition.

And a year later, – albeit briefly – to play for Argentine outfit Banfield. He came on as a substitute against River Plat and almost scored a 30-yard wonder goal, only for it to be tipped over the bar.

He said after the game: "I am very happy, in Banfield they treat me very well and make me feel important."

His importance grew even more four years later as he bravely in a "cry for help". In an video, he shared: "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."

Almost immediately, he was flooded with words of sympathy, especially from former Roma teammate Daniele De Rossi, who said he'll "forever be here" for him and Argentina international Leandro Paredes who wrote: 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.

The Johnny Depp of the footballing is clearly enjoying life singing his heart out, so could acting be next for him? Maybe even an after shave advert like Depp did? Who knows.