Southampton release flop Dani Osvaldo - costing the club around £25m for just three Premier League goals

Osvaldo was bought for a club-record fee but was sent to Juventus on loan after head-butting Jose Fonte

(Getty Images)

Southampton have released club-record signing Dani Osvaldo - at a total cost of around £25million including fee and wages.

The former Italy international lasted spent just 166 days at the club following his move from Roma in August 2013, when he was shipped out on loan to Juventus after head-butting Jose Fonte during training.

His short spell, following a fee that could have been worth up to £14.6m, at the club brought just three Premier League goals in 13 matches.

Osvaldo, 29, scored just one goal for Juventus with the Old Lady deciding against an option to take him on a permanent deal.

Last season he scored seven goals in 18 games on loan at Inter Milan, before moving on another loan deal to Boca Juniors in Argentina, where he scored another seven goals in 15 matches.

Osvaldo still had two years remaining on his Southampton but the Saints have decided to cut their losses with the striker last appearing for the club in January 2014.

Osvaldo has had three loan spells in the last 18 months (Getty Images)

“Southampton Football Club can confirm that it has terminated the contract of striker Dani Osvaldo,” read a statement. “The Italian international, who has not played for the club since January 2014, yesterday completed a loan spell with Argentinian club Boca Juniors.”

Osvaldo is now free to speak to other clubs, although there is not yet any indication about where he may end up.