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Drenched in the sweat of his own depression,

provokes both pity and frustration. Betrayed by the depth of his thoughts, his never ending quest for happiness has only ever led him down the path of misery for there has never quite been a player so complete on the outside yet so broken within.

“There are days when I feel sad, I would like to be another person, get lost in the world,” explained the forward to La Repubblica in his most candid interview. Caught perpetually staring into the distance, there is the sense that Osvaldo may be physically present yet emotionally absent on most occasions, pining for his lost childhood.

“I’ve been forced to grow up but there is a part of me inside that rejects the idea.”

Adulthood robs a man of his freedom and for a man who admits he owes much of his nomadic footballing career to the fact he thinks ‘happiness is always somewhere else’, responsibility and loyalty are two things one can never associate with the player.

Even the mothers of his three children (a child with one, two with another) took to twitter to share their pain with each other and the world with regards to Osvaldo’s indifference to responsibility. According to their mothers, not even his children can provoke his sense of duty.

(Image: Saints fc/Digital South)

As GQ discovered in an interview with the player, football is just a desperate attempt for Osvaldo to recapture his childhood. A sport and a passion, when he plays, it’s difficult to not see his talent. Combining acceleration, technique, quick thinking, excellent positioning and powerful strength, the Italian international is a complete player. When not hampered by his many thoughts and feelings of inadequacy, Osvaldo is quite the talent.

His hat trick against Siena in April was a thing of beauty whilst his brace helped Roma win 4-2 against a Genoa side that went 2-0 up within the opening 15 minutes of the game. He can indeed make the difference or rescue his side when called upon.

Mauricio Pochettino spoke of not ‘imagining the team without Osvaldo’ during his time as Coach of Espanyol whilst one newspaper described the Catalan club as a side that lived off Osvaldo’s inspiration. When he’s loved, Osvaldo performs.

Espanyol said the player is much better when he’s being cuddled. “Is that so?” Asked El Pais in 2010, prior to the player’s move to Roma. “Yes I need to feel important, that they care about me.”

(Image: Reuters)

It was the serenity, the forward insisted, that helped him play well in Spain – something he couldn’t find in Italy. “Over there, unless you score 15 goals in three games then you won’t play anymore. I am happy in Espanyol, they let me be myself. I do not feel the pressure, I have fun.”

For a man who openly admitted he has a ‘s**t character’ when asked about his many expulsions over the years, Osvaldo wishes he was a better man. He once asked the Juventus Sporting Director to take him to Turin, not because he was particularly fond of the team but because he was desperate to escape the temptations found in a big city and to just feel normal in a quieter location.

As normal and as happy as he felt when he went to Plaza de Catalunya in Barcelona and strummed his guitar in complete anonymity– not a single soul recognised him he told GQ.

. He was Serie A’s third highest scorer last season despite the many problems he suffered at the club due to fights in the dressing room, fan outrage and problems with the Coaches.

Whether or not he succeeds depends on the amount of love he receives. Make him feel important and Osvaldo guarantees goals. His brutal strength, awesome technique and sheer ability are a sight to behold.