Professional soccer player Divock Origi stands firm, unwilling to tear up his existing contract, despite playing the entire season with the club's U23 team in the Champions League.
Belgian footballer Divock Origi finds himself in a contractual predicament with AC Milan, as his career enters its final years. With just one year remaining on his deal with the Italian club, Origi faces the possibility of missing out on the 2024/25 campaign unless he can come to an agreement to terminate his contract.
The crux of the issue lies in a defunct tax law known as the Growth Decree. This law, which was abolished in 2023, had previously allowed AC Milan to pay lower tax on Origi's wages. However, the law's demise now leaves Origi stranded in Italy, unable to leave for extended periods due to its ramifications.
Origi joined AC Milan on a free transfer in 2022, but his tenure has been marred by struggles to make an impact. Despite a brief return to the Premier League in the 2023/24 season, where he joined Nottingham Forest on loan, Origi failed to score a goal in his 20 appearances.
Origi's absence from the first team has not gone unnoticed. Mexican striker Santiago Gimenez, who transferred from Feyenoord Rotterdam to AC Milan in 2025 for around €32 million, is emerging as a key starter for the club. Gimenez's decisive goal-scoring ability and unique skillset pose competition for Origi and other players vying for a spot in the first team.
Furthermore, the arrival of Christopher Nkunku adds to the competition. Origi must contend with these new challenges if he hopes to secure a place in the AC Milan squad for the upcoming season.
Origi's time at Liverpool, where he became a cult hero due to his contributions off the bench, including his heroics in the Champions League-winning campaign in 2019, serves as a reminder of his potential. However, his recent struggles and the current circumstances at AC Milan cast doubt over his future in Italian football.
Origi has reportedly turned down a chance to get out of his contract with AC Milan, but the future remains uncertain for the Belgian striker. As the 2024/25 season approaches, all eyes will be on Origi and AC Milan to see how this situation unfolds.
