Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino has dismissed reports suggesting £12.8 million record signing Pablo Daniel Osvaldo is seeking a move away from St Mary’s in January, Sky Sports understands.
Dani Osvaldo, who signed a four-year deal with the Saints in the summer, is reportedly unsettled on the south coast, having recently revealed his desire to return to Buenos Aires to play for Argentine Primera División giants Boca Juniors.
“I’m already thinking about moving back to Argentina” Osvaldo told The Sunday People last month.
“I want to play for Boca [Juniors], that’s my dream. I have been dreaming about wearing Boca’s shirt during my entire life.”
The Italy international, 27, has failed to adapt to the physical nature of the English Premier League, citing his preference for Spanish football.
“Football here is so physical, but it doesn’t have the technique and quality that it has in Spain,” added the former Huracán youth star.
However, Pochettino has rubbished speculation linking Dani Osvaldo, who has missed two straight games due to injury (knock), with a move in the January transfer window.
“Nowadays with social media like Facebook and Twitter anybody can put any type of news out there and so we don’t really pay attention to that,” Pochettino told the Daily Echo.
“We take those things for what they are and focus on the reality. The toughest thing is that on social media you can’t prove anything or disprove anything.
“Anyone can throw any kind of news out there and it’s hard to disprove or prove that news. For us the most important thing is that we know the personal situation of every single player and we just have to keep going and not pay attention to that.”
Southampton (5-4-1), currently in fifth-place in the Premier League table, will travel to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland in Round 4 of the Capital One Cup on Wednesday evening.
Dani Osvaldo — 2/1 to score at anytime against the Black Cats in midweek — has scored just one goal in seven league appearances for the Saints this season.
Sunderland (13/5); Southampton (1/1); Draw (5/2)
Seasiders agree Blackett loan
Blackpool have completed the signing of Manchester United left-back on an initial month-long loan deal, according to the club’s official website, www.blackpoolfc.co.uk.
Blackett, 19, made his professional debut in the Tangerines’ 1-0 away win over Nottingham Forest at City Ground on Saturday.
The England Under-19 international completed 80 percent of his total passes, had 64 touches of the ball and won all of his aerial duels in a satisfactory performance.
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