Another transfer window and another move for Dani Osvaldo as for the fifth time in succession the 29-year-old striker signs for a new club. Having been released in the middle of his contract with Southampton and the player opting against making his move to Boca Juniors permanent, Osvaldo switches to Porto on a two-year-deal.

A high-profile transfer to a Champions League club is perhaps more than Osvaldo’s recent history deserves but is evidence of his talents and provides a platform for him to revive his career. The curious part of the transfer is the role of Uruguayan club Atlética Sud América, a club that have been penalised by FIFA previously for acting as a “bridge” club where a player signs for them for a very short amount of time before moving again to Europe in an effort to avoid certain taxes. Osvaldo was in Uruguay last week discussing this move but has now completed the switch to Porto.

Porto will be the twelfth club of Osvaldo’s relatively short career since making his debut for Huracán in 2005 which highlights his problems away from the pitch. Southampton made Osvaldo their record signing when they paid £14.6 million to Roma but after just a handful of appearances a training ground head-butt to captain José Fonte saw his time in England end.

A series of loan spells followed and most recently this brought him back to Argentina with Boca Juniors. After a good start to life in La Bombonera, scoring seven goals in fifteen matches, his form deteriorated amid problems in his personal life. Supposedly for this reason, despite being a free-agent, the striker decided not to remain in Argentina.

Porto seem pleased to have signed Osvaldo on a free transfer but it remains to be seen if they will be as pleased in six months time. History tells us that there will be problems.