Divock Origi: Milan’s Forgotten Star with a Golden Contract

Divock Origi finds himself in a peculiar situation at AC Milan. Despite being one of the highest-paid players on the team, the Belgian striker has been completely sidelined from the club’s plans. Origi joined Milan as a free agent in the summer of 2022, signing a lucrative contract until June 30, 2026, which guarantees him approximately 4 million euros net per year.

The former Liverpool player’s career at Milan has stagnated, with even a loan spell at Nottingham Forest failing to revitalize his prospects. Origi has become virtually invisible in the football world, spending extended periods away from Milan with the club’s permission. He has been spotted training in Florence and Rome, working with a personal trainer as Milan has decided not to include him in any official matches this season.

Origi’s reluctance to accept offers from Saudi Arabia and Turkey was partly due to tax reasons, as he needed to remain in Italy for at least half a year plus one day to benefit from the growth decree tax incentives.

Looking ahead, Origi has shown no interest in a mutual contract termination, seemingly content to see out his current deal. This leaves both the player and Milan in a stalemate for potentially another year and a half. While no developments are expected in January, the situation could change in June when Origi enters the final year of his contract. At that point, he might be more open to reaching an agreement with Milan for an early release.

As it stands, Origi remains one of Milan’s highest earners without contributing to the team’s performance, presenting a challenging situation for both the club and the player.