19/01/2009

So who is he?


He may not score most goals, just the most important ones. According to his agent - quoted at Channel 4 - Pablo Daniel Osvaldo is the man to fill Bellamy's boots. In a couple of days he will be wearing claret & blue! If so, things happens really fast nowadays! Probably a loan deal, but let's see. Other sources, like Mirror, is talking about a fee about 7 Millions.
Just turned 23 a week ago, the Argentinian has had a really promising career so far. Well, until this year. Something has happened between him and the coach of Fiorentina, Cesare Prandelli. Earlier suggestions has told us that West Ham were after Giampaolo Pazzini from the same club, but Osvaldo seems an even better option. Even if their new Serb Stevan Jovetic - lovely player - would be the real steal.
 It may have helped that Osvaldo also had an Italian passport when he came from his native homeland and wrote a contract with Atalanta (then in Serie B) in 2006. Just three games later he was off to Lecce (the contract seemed to be the Italian style) where he scored 8 times in 31 games. Fiorentina saw the young talent and bought him after just one season. In his first game for the Tuscany side he scored twice. He has also scored a winning goal in overtime against the rivals Juventus (where he became famous for being sent off in the same moment; he had a yellow card and celebrated the goal in "Batistuta-style"). And he made an over-head-kick goal against Torino that sent Fiorentina to the Champions league last year.
Will he be able to do the same for us? I guess Zola think so, as he has studied Osvaldo close in the Italian under-21. And Zola is usually more right than wrong.
Further down you'll find a link to his artistery. Well here as well!

As a West Ham fan I'm used to obstacles along the way, but also to never give up. I hope for this one! As well as Savio Nsereko!

Edit: Just arrived 20 Jan GMT 17.30: According to Setana: "Osvaldo has completed a move from Fiorentina to Bologna, despite an agent claiming the player was on his way to West Ham. Darro Decoud suggested on Otalian radio that the forward would go to Upton park to replace Bellamy. However, Bologna made a firm bid on Monday night and the deal has been finalised."