Osvaldo: 'Nice to see an entertaining team top Serie A...'
Former Southampton hitman Pablo Osvaldo has taken what looks to be a swipe at second-place Inter Milan.
Interviewed by corrierespione.it – and, rather bizarrely, by his ex-wife Elena Braccini, with whom he has two daughters – the Italo-Argentine bomber seemingly gave both guns to former club Inter.
“It’s definitely nice to see a team that plays good football top the league, just like Antonio Conte’s Juventus, and not others who have been lucky with results.”
Whether Osvaldo’s comments are genuine or the result of sour grapes (or both) remains to be seen, as the striker’s last foray in Serie A football came at the expense of Inter Milan’s patience.
Ever since his stormy two seasons with Roma, which included allegedly punching team-mate Erick Lamela in the face and feuding with caretaker manager Aurelio Andreazzoli over playing time, the 29-year-old Osvaldo has developed a bit of a journeyman reputation, despite possessing enough talent to be called up for Italy 14 times and net 40 goals for Espanyol and Roma over three seasons, the latter two spent in Serie A.
Following a two-goal start for the Nerazzurri in last season’s 7-0 rout of Sassuolo, the former Viola hitman languished on the bench for most of his seven-month stay, which was marred by feuds with both the club and team-mates.
Yet the former Southampton player also had some interesting things to say about Florence, a “beautiful” city he is still attached to because his daughters with Braccini still live there. His attachment to the football team is just as strong.
“I particularly remember the two goals I scored against Livorno on my Serie A debut and my last-gasp strike against Juventus.
"Whenever I visit, fans stop me on the street and remind me of the overhead kick I netted against the Old Lady in Turin to guarantee Champions League qualification.
Osvaldo also added a note about the national side, which is “always on my mind, but first I need to earn a starting place here in Porto and play well. The rest will come.”
