Dani Osvaldo’s controversial stay at Saints could net the club a profit of more than £3m if Juventus exercise their option to buy him in May.

The striker, pictured, yesterday sealed a loan move to the Serie A giants until the end of the season, with Juventus picking up his estimated £50,000 a week wage bill during that time.

They have an option to buy Osvaldo by May 31 for a set fee of €19m (£15.6m).

That would equate to Saints bagging a tasty profit of €4m (£3.3m) on a player they bought from Roma for a club record €15m (£12.2m) less than six months ago.

Osvaldo, who made 13 appearances during his brief time at Saints, scoring three goals, saw his career at St Mary’s come to an end after an alleged headbutt on teammate Jose Fonte.

That led Saints, whose only other piece of deadline day business was to complete the £1.75m sale of Jason Puncheon to Crystal Palace, to get shot of him before the window closed. “I’m very happy,” Osvaldo told Juventus club media.

“It’s all been a bit of a whirlwind and I still can’t quite believe it but I’m happy.”

“It was pleasing when I first heard of Juventus’ interest in me.

“When everything was completed last night I sat down and I couldn’t believe it.

“As I said before, it’s been a pretty hectic three or four days but I’m happy.”

Osvaldo, who joined Saints from Roma, was asked whether he had missed Italian football.

“I can honestly say I have, yes,” he replied. “When I initially left I was happy to embark on a new and exciting experience in England.

“But in the end it became something I missed.”

Osvaldo really needs to perform in the next few months to help Juve in their quest to win the Serie A title and to ensure a spot in Italy’s World Cup side. And he has serious competition for a place in their side with the likes of Carlos Tevez, Fernando Llorente and Fabio Quagliarella also vying for a striking berth.

“I want to enjoy it,” he smiled.

“In the year of the World Cup, I’m joining the greatest club in Italy and one of the finest in Europe.

“I don’t think such things happen often in life.

“I want to enjoy this experience, do my best to be involved in the World Cup and, God willing, stay here for many years.”