Former Premier League and Serie A luminary Dani Osvaldo has publicly acknowledged a “cry for help,” disclosing his ongoing struggles with alcohol and drug dependency subsequent to his retirement. Osvaldo has admitted to grappling with depression and substance abuse since stepping away from professional football.
The erstwhile Southampton and AS Roma forward concluded his footballing career at Boca Juniors in 2016, at the age of merely 30, to pursue his passion for music under the moniker Dani Stone. Although he briefly returned to the pitch with Argentine club Banfield in 2020, Osvaldo terminated his contract prematurely, marking another departure from the sport.
Presently, the former Juventus and Inter Milan striker, who netted thrice in 13 appearances for Southampton, has candidly discussed the personal trials he is currently confronting. Osvaldo, now 38 and fronting a rock band named Barrio Viejo, utilized social media to disclose his estrangement from his family, which comprises two daughters and one son.
In an Instagram video, he expressed, “It’s challenging for me to produce this video as I have never undertaken such an endeavor previously. Nonetheless, I believe the time has come as I find myself in a state of desperation and distress. I am unsure whether this is a plea for assistance or simply a compulsion to articulate my struggles, for I have been contending with profound depression for a protracted duration.”
Osvaldo further disclosed, “This depression has led me into the grips of addiction—namely, alcohol and drugs. Regrettably, I have reached a juncture wherein my life seems to be slipping away from my grasp.” In an alternate interpretation, Osvaldo expressed feeling as though his “life is slipping away.”
The South American athlete elucidated that he is currently “undergoing psychiatric intervention” and adhering to medication to address a “very specific affliction: lack of self-esteem and depression.” He then underscored his proclivity to relapse into addictive behaviors, revealing his tendency to lead a reclusive existence, often confined to his home and struggling to find motivation to leave his bed.