DIVOCK ORIGI’S career remains in limbo after the ex-Liverpool striker was banished to AC Milan’s reserves.
The Anfield cult hero will not face his former side when the Reds meet Milan in tonight’s Champions League group stage.
Origi spent seven seasons with Liverpool, playing over 100 times for the club.
He enjoyed a pivotal role in the famous comeback win over Barcelona in 2019, netting what was later voted by fans as the club’s greatest goal in its 130-year history.
Origi would go on to score in the Champions League final that season against Spurs, cementing his cult status on Merseyside.
But in recent seasons, the Belgian’s eye for goal has deserted him since leaving for Milan in 2022.
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Origi has netted just twice for the Rossoneri and was shipped out to Nottingham Forest on loan last season.
He remained shot-shy during his time at the City Ground and received a frosty reception on his return to Italy.
Origi was banished to the youth team by Milan’s senior advisor and former striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Ibra said in July: “Divock Origi and Fode Ballo-Toure are not part of our plans.
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“They will be part of the youth team as they’re not included in our project.”
Origi was demoted to Milan Futuro, the team’s Serie C under-23 side.
He hasn’t appeared for the team this season and reportedly trained on his own over the summer.
Origi signed a four-year deal in Milan and his contract runs through to 2026.
Despite rumours of a Prem return over the summer, no move materialised.
He will now be forced to watch Tuesday’s San Siro showdown from the stands.
New Champions League format
Each club will play eight matches in the opening phase – against seeded opposition, in a system designed to ensure that teams play opponents of similar difficulty.
The top eight teams in the “final” table will automatically go through to the last 16, where they will be joined by the eight play-off winners of ties between the sides placed ninth to 24th in the table.
Despite there being just eight matches in the opening phase, European matches will be spread over 10 midweek slots.
The new Champions League format also sees the implication of two additional qualifying spots.
They will be awarded to the nations that are top of the “country coefficient” chart each season.
And reports suggest he could even have his contract terminated by Milan to leave on a free.
Liverpool arrive in Italy on the back of a shock 1-0 loss to Forest at the weekend.
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Milan meanwhile have made a poor start to the new Serie A season.
They currently sit 10th with just one win from their opening four matches.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
