Maverick Dani Osvaldo has apparently turned his back on football - so he can devote more time to playing in his band.

The journeyman Argentine-Italian, best known for picking fights with opponents and team-mates alike, was offered a two-year contract on deadline day by Chievo.

But the 30-year-old striker turned down the £2.1million-a-year offer in order to spend more time indulging his musical passions.

Dani Osvaldo, pictured during his time at Southampton, has retired from football

The controversial Italy striker wants to spend more time playing with his band

His last club was Boca Juniors, but Osvaldo was sacked by the club after manager Guillermo Barros caught him smoking in the changing rooms during a Copa Libertadores quarter-final.

He had been at the Argentine giants for less than a year, having transferred from Porto in August 2015, but made just six appearances for them.

Chievo offered the controversial player another chance to resurrect his career, but Osvaldo has decided to hang up his boots.

His career will be remembered for a succession of flashpoints. In 2011, he punched Roma team-mate Erik Lamela in the face after he didn't pass to him during a defeat at Udinese.

Osvaldo scores a memorable goal for Southampton against Man City in December 2013

Osvaldo takes on Chelsea defender Gary Cahill during his spell with Southampton

And in 2013, he called caretaker manager Aurelio Andreazzoli 'incompetent' after he was only brought off the bench for 15 minutes during Roma's Coppa Italia final defeat to rivals Lazio.

Osvaldo moved to Southampton but controversy followed. In January 2014, he was fined £40,000 and banned for three matches for violent conduct during a touchline bust-up in a match with Newcastle.

Three weeks later, he headbutted team-mate Jose Fonte during a training ground fracas, leading to the club handing him a two-week suspension.

Loan spells at Juventus and Inter Milan followed, before his moves to Porto and then Boca.