Days of intense chest pain and general malaise, without seeking medical help. When he was finally taken to hospital, his condition had already become critical. Dani Osvaldo , 40 , a former striker with stints at Juventus , Roma and the Italian national team , is being treated in an intensive care unit.
According to information from Tuttosport , the veteran footballer remained at his home in Banfield for several days, where he was in serious discomfort. His sister and a friend noticed his deterioration and took him to the Hospital Municipal de Llavallol , in the province of Buenos Aires.
Medical tests revealed a severe pleural effusion on the right side of the chest, with a large concentration of fluid and infected material , a finding that necessitated emergency surgery . During the operation, according to Argentine media, a small section of lung tissue was also removed in order to treat the pulmonary complication.
After the surgery, he was transferred to the intensive care unit , where he remains under close medical supervision. The hospital has not yet issued an official statement, while his family has chosen to keep a low profile.
The delay in seeking help appears to have been a determining factor. Pleural effusion with infected contents deteriorates rapidly and can become life-threatening, as the fluid presses on the lung and limits respiratory function. The fact that the 40-year-old remained at home for days with severe symptoms explains, to a large extent, the severity of his current condition.
Osvaldo was one of the most recognizable strikers of his generation, with a career that took him from Argentina to the top of the Italian Serie A and to the Italian national team, before retiring relatively early from the field and turning to music.