Origi set for pastures new with cult hero status secured

With his contract due to expire in the coming months, Divock Origi looks set to call time on his Liverpool career and embark on a new adventure in Milan, as per several media outlets.

Divock Origi's more than tempted by AC Milan contract proposal to sign him on a free. Talks in progress with his agents in order to complete the verbal agreement as soon as possible. ? #ACMilan

Liverpool board knows there are huge chances for Origi to leave as free agent.

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 21, 2022

The 26-year-old has struggled for game time this season and has fallen further in the pecking order after the arrival of Colombian Luis Diaz in January.

Origi has only managed 71 minutes of action in the Premier League this season and with the World Cup coming up in November, it makes sense for the striker to now look for regular football to try and force his way into Roberto Martinez’s squad.

The Belgian is still to hit his footballing prime at only 26 so Milan may get Origi at just the right time, with the frontman keen to make an impact to add to his medal haul from his time at Anfield.

In many ways it has been a frustrating spell of his career, with Origi at one point looking destined for the exit door after a disappointing loan spell at VfL Wolfsburg in the 2017-18 campaign.

It says a lot about the character of the former Lille striker that he decided to stay and try to resurrect his Liverpool career. Whilst he never quite became Jurgen Klopp’s go-to forward, Origi has had moments in a red shirt that other players can only dream of.

He scored a last gasp winner in a Merseyside derby victory over Everton that will live long in the memory while even in his limited appearance this season, the Belgian scored a last-minute winner at Wolves which could prove crucial to Liverpool’s title challenge come the end of the season.

It was in the 2018-19 Champions League campaign that Origi really forged his status as a hero to Liverpool supporters.

The striker knocked in the opening goal in the semi-final second leg against Barcelona to give the Reds a glimmer of hope and would score once again late on to make it 4-0 and complete a momentous comeback.

Having sat on the bench for almost an hour of the final against Tottenham, the Belgian replaced Roberto Firmino and scored the vital second goal in the 87th minute to clinch a sixth European Cup for his club.

Origi now had his name in the club’s history books and any enduring frustration from the past would have then dissipated.

That is not to say the attacker is not ambitious. He could have left at any point in the previous few summer transfer windows but has held out and now looks set to move to another giant of European football in AC Milan.

Champions League football almost certainly awaits and if he can carry with him the knack of scoring goals in crucial moments, the Belgian will be just as adored among the Rossoneri as he was on the red half of Merseyside.

Perhaps before his departure, there might be one last moment in a red shirt and with the club still fighting on all fronts, a player like Origi is vital to have among the ranks.

One thing is for certain, the popular Belgian will get a brilliant send-off once he leaves the Anfield pitch for the final time.

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