Osvaldo – The Volley | OneFootball

When a player’s name becomes synonymous with a particular piece of skill, especially the most difficult of them all, you know he was a great striker. Pablo Daniel Osvaldo, or quite simply the overhead kick, was no ordinary forward. He arrived in Italy at a very young age and caught the eye at several clubs before truly flourishing at Roma. There, his physical power, technical ability and trademark machine-gun celebration prompted a comparison that bordered on blasphemy in those parts: Batistuta.

Osvaldo also held an Italian passport and, faced with competition from Agüero, Tévez, Messi, Higuaín and Milito, chose to represent Italy. He joined Inter on loan from Southampton, with Walter Mazzarri looking for an alternative to Mauro Icardi up front. Inter flew out of the blocks. Osvaldo scored twice in the 7-0 win over Sassuolo, then opened the scoring against Atalanta a few days later. At San Siro, Palacio had missed a penalty and Inter were struggling to find a way through a highly disciplined Atalanta defence. Something special was needed. From a free-kick, Osvaldo adjusted brilliantly near the penalty spot and sent an acrobatic right-footed volley into the net. It was not exactly an overhead kick like those he had scored for Roma, but an outstanding piece of technique nonetheless. Hernanes made it 2-0 with a free-kick, but Inter soon stalled and changed coach. Mazzarri was replaced by Mancini, returning for a second spell, while Osvaldo’s time at Inter came to an abrupt end following a furious row with Icardi during Juventus vs. Inter. The flashpoint was a counter-attack and a pass that never came. Osvaldo was an unconventional character with countless interests away from the pitch, from music and literature to his eventful private life. He retired from football at just 30, with the goal against Atalanta one of his last as a professional. He returned to the game in 2020, but only for a couple of appearances. He never truly felt at home in the world of football. Yet, however briefly, he still managed to make San Siro dream.