Liverpool cult hero Divock Origi not been seen by club in months despite £3million contract

Liverpool cult hero Divock Origi not been seen by club in months despite £3million contract

Divock Origi's 2022 transfer from Liverpool to AC Milan initially looked incredibly promising for the star striker, but he hasn't played a game for the club since the 2022/23 campaign

Divock Origi is contracted with Milan until 2026 but is nowhere near the team (Image: Getty Images )

Divock Origi has had a tumultuous term with AC Milan since parting ways with Liverpool in 2022 on a free transfer. As a youngster, Origi impressed at Lille before signing his first professional contract with the club in 2012.

And after achieving 16 goals in 89 appearances for the Ligue 1 outfit, Liverpool came a-knocking in 2014 to bring the now 29-year-old to the ranks of the Anfield elite in a £10million deal. Over the next eight years, Origi made 175 appearances for The Reds, bagging 41 goals and 15 assists despite restricted playing time, even lifting a Premier League and a Champions League with the club under Jurgen Klopp.

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When his time in the north west came to a close in the summer of 2022, Origi received the most well of wishes from Klopp and Liverpool supporters worldwide, as he made the move to AC Milan on a free transfer - the future still looking incredibly bright for the forward.

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Given a £3.4million (€4m) per year contract until July 2026, Origi quickly became the second-highest player on the books of Milan behind Rafael Leao. But after arriving in Italy injured, fans of the Rossoneri quickly began to cast doubts about whether his bang was worth the buck.

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Despite his form, Milan icon and club director at the time Paolo Maldini explained: "Origi has everything to be a great footballer. He has physique, technique, speed, shooting, right, left. Watching him in training, we know what he can do."

While he scored a goal and bagged an assist during his first game against Monza in October 2022, Origi struggled for form afterwards - netting just two goals in total from 27 games in his maiden season in Milan. As a result, at the time manager Stefano Piloi allowed Origi to be sent out on loan to Nottingham Forest for the 2023/24 campaign, with hopes that the striker would find his footing once more.

Divock Origi (Image: Getty Images )

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However, Origi failed to score a single goal from 20 league games in the midlands, returning to Milan this summer with major questions pertaining to his future. Milan advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic announced in July that Origi was no longer in the first-team plans, relegating him to the reserves, however, he is yet to make a single appearance for any side since returning and finds himself in limbo.

Ibrahimovic said: "Divock Origi and [Senegalese defender] Fodé Ballo-Toure are not part of our plans. They will be part of the youth team [in Serie C] as they’re not included in our project."

Reported interest came from Turkey and Saudi Arabia over the recent summer transfer window, but a deal never managed to come to fruition - and Origi is said to be working away from the club alongside a personal trainer. Also vacant from social media, the footballer hasn't uploaded to Instagram since his trip to Tokyo this summer - but fans have reported seeing him visiting Rome alone while others have seen him playing padel in Florence.

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The future looks incredibly uncertain for Origi, who will undoubtedly be looking for regular first team football as the soonest given opportunity, desperate to find his way back to the pitch as he enters the latter stages of his professional career.

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