Dani Osvaldo has described it as “an honour and a dream” to join Juventus on transfer deadline day.

The Saints bad boy has moved to the Serie A giants on loan until May 31 with the Italian club paying his wages, estimated to be around £50,000 a week.

Juventus have confirmed they can exercise an option to buy him permanently before May 31 at a set fee of €19m (£15.6m), paid over three years.

That would make a tidy profit on a player Saints signed for a club record fee of €15m last summer.

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 has led Saints to get shot of him before the window closes.

“I’m very happy,” Osvaldo told a Juventus interviewer.

“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.

“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.”