Dani Osvaldo knows he was fortunate to have a professional football career which spanned 11 years. Now 31, the former Italy international retired last year have last played for Boca Juniors in his native Argentina.
In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Osvaldo said that he does not miss the game. He also explained his reasons for retiring so early.
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 anymore. I had offers from China and clubs in the Champions League, but I was detached.
I was beginning to hate what I had always loved. Football deserves respect, and I prefer asado [Argentinian barbecue] and beer to money.
A few months into retirement last year, Osvaldo got a phone call from Jorge Sampaoli. The then Sevilla manager needed a striker. Osvaldo could not help out his fellow Argentinian as he had a prior engagement.
Do you want a laugh? In December 2016 [Jorge] Sampaoli contacted me, he was at Sevilla at the time.
He said to me: ‘Dani, I’m not asking anything of you, you can do what you want on the pitch and off, but I need a striker’.
I told him ‘but boss, there’s the Cosquín Rock festival!’. He said ‘I forgot! Go, of course, you can’t miss it’. Two crazy people!
