Divock Origi has made just four career appearances at AC Milan, but the former Liverpool striker has already been labeled the “worst signing of the season” in Italy.
Origi made the decision to leave Anfield after eight years this summer, joining Milan on a free transfer while putting pen to paper on a four-year deal.
It was a bold choice by the Belgian, who had carved out a niche for himself at Liverpool, but it was arguably the right one as he was unlikely to reprise first-choice duties under Jurgen Klopp.
However, injury ruled Origi out of a swansong in the Champions League final, and persistent fitness problems have limited the 27-year-old to just four substitute appearances for Milan so far.
Coach Stefano Pioli had indicated before the weekend’s clash with Sampdoria that his No. 27 was in line to start, only to see him ruled out in the build-up with a new injury that could also see him miss out on Dinamo Zagreb’s visit. in the Champions. League.
That frustration has led Italian journalist Alvise Cagnazzo to call Origi “the worst signing of the season” in a column for the Mail.
Cagnazzo argues that the striker “seems to be already on a downward curve in his career”, and beyond his injury concerns, “has been poor every time he has played”.
“There is a great risk that Origi will become a failure like Javi Moreno, Jose Mari, Patrick Kluivert and Fernando Torres,” he writes.
Of course, this is simply one journalist’s opinion, though the verdict is mixed among Milan fans on Twitter:
I’ll be honest… Origi was a huge disappointment.
-Mark Galliani? (@ACMaruk) September 6, 2022
You see that Origi is giving me the reason
very poor player
extremely limited
Liverpool discarded a player and we rushed him as if we had taken out a CR7
— ??? ?????? ????????? (@spikemmy) September 6, 2022
Whoever said that football is nothing without Origi is crazy and stupid. omo where did that guy come from
— Gbemileke (@landon_milan) September 6, 2022
Origi has played the equivalent of a full game and people are already smearing him. He hasn’t had a preseason, so he has to get minutes here and there and shake off the rush. Give it some time geeez
— ForzaMilan 1??9????? (@uk_acmilan) September 6, 2022
People already discard Origi. Shocking from our fans
— Martino (@MartinoPuccio) September 6, 2022
Meanwhile, some Liverpool supporters reminded their Milan counterparts of the unique quality that Origi offers:
Origi is trending, Milan fans are not happy.
That’s how it goes with him. She disappoints over and over again. You lose all hope. You almost forget that he even plays for your club. Then… and only then… That’s when Divock’s magic happens.
Expect it when you least expect it.
— Jack Leighton (@jclighton) September 6, 2022
See Milan fans unimpressed with Origi. It’s because they don’t understand Origi. He is both the best “worst footballer” and the worst “best footballer”. One minute it looks like he’s won a draw for a match, the next he’s scoring in European Cup finals and derbies.
— Wayne (@Gunga__Din) September 6, 2022
It’s sad to see Origi’s reputation take a hit in these first few months of his time at Milan, and the striker clearly still needs time to work on his fitness as he adjusts.
But it seems to follow a trend of players leaving Liverpool finding it difficult to get going, as Philippe Coutinho, Gini Wijnaldum and Xherdan Shaqiri have discovered in recent years.
