Dani Osvaldo after emergency lung operation in Argentine clinic

The 40-year-old former Italian international Pablo Daniel Osvaldo, often called Dani Osvaldo, Italy’s ex‑footballer, has been in intensive care at a hospital in Buenos Aires, Argentina, since Thursday after an emergency lung operation. Relatives took him to the clinic after sudden chest pains. Doctors diagnosed an inflammation and a severe pleural effusion, which required immediate surgery.

Media report unanimously

Argentine and Italian media confirmed that the former Italy ex‑international Osvaldo is in intensive care after the emergency operation. The Argentine sports channel Tyc Sports reported that the family took the 40‑year‑old patient to the hospital last Thursday. The Italian newspapers Tuttosport and Corriere della Sera repeated the information and named the same clinic in Buenos Aires.

Diagnosis and surgery

Doctors diagnosed an inflammation and a severe pleural effusion, a dangerous fluid accumulation between the lung and the chest wall. A portion of lung tissue was removed to relieve the pressure. Since then Osvaldo has been monitored in intensive care.

On Sunday Osvaldo's family issued a statement reassuring the public. “He is doing well and is responsive,” it said. Despite his critical condition, Corriere della Sera emphasized that there was no danger to his life.

Osvaldo, born and raised in Argentina, played in Serie A for seven clubs, including AS Roma, Juventus Turin and Inter Milan. He also featured for Espanyol Barcelona in Spain, Southampton in England and Porto in Portugal. He ended his professional career in 2020 with the youth club Banfield.

For the Italian national team he earned fourteen caps and scored four goals, all in the qualification for the 2014 World Cup. This makes him one of the few Argentina‑born players to have represented Italy.

After retiring, Osvaldo withdrew increasingly and founded a rock band. In 2024 he spoke publicly about severe mental health issues as well as drug and alcohol addiction. In a video he explained that he had at times completely isolated himself and cut off contact with family and friends.

The cause of the pneumonia that led to the pleural effusion has not yet been determined, according to medical reports. Osvaldo remains in intensive care, his condition is still critical but without immediate threat to his life. All parties hope for a swift recovery.