The demise of Divock Origi: Liverpool cult hero is rotting with AC Milan's reserves after disastrous San Siro switch

When Klopp stepped down as Liverpool manager after an emotional nine-year tenure, Origi was among those to pay tribute to the German manager. "Forever grateful," the forward wrote below an Instagram post of two pictures of the pair embracing. "What a legacy you've built." Origi undeniably played a minor role in its construction, though.

It was his last-gasp winner in the Merseyside derby against Everton in December 2018 that had prompted an ecstatic Klopp to race onto the pitch and celebrate with Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker. Origi had also sparked arguably the wildest scenes of celebration ever witnessed at Anfield when he swept home Trent Alexander-Arnold's "corner taken quickly" to complete the historic Champions League comeback against Barcelona in May 2019.

Klopp had actually missed Origi's finish in real time - just like Barcelona's defence, he'd been caught out by the alert Alexander-Arnold - but says he's since watched it "500,000 times".

Of course, despite his heroics during the 2018-19 season, Origi never went on to become a regular under Klopp, primarily because Liverpool were in possession of one of the modern game's great attacking triumvirates in Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane. However, Klopp still felt compelled to call Origi a "Liverpool legend" and claim that "they'll write books about him one day".

"He's an incredible striker," the ex-Reds boss said after Origi's last-minute winner against Wolves in December 2021. "For different reasons, he has not played that often, but I hope one day he finds a manager that plays him more than I do.

"He's one of the best finishers I've ever seen in my life. In this great team, with our [front] three, he doesn't play all the time, but he is a very positive boy, loves the club, wants to contribute, and he does it in an incredible way."

However, Origi didn't play enough games to trigger a one-year extension during the 2021-22 season, which effectively spelt the end of his Liverpool career.

Klopp, though, insisted "wherever he goes, he will be successful, 100 per cent", labelling him "one of the most important players" he'd ever had the pleasure to manage. "That might sound strange with the amount of games he had," Klopp acknowledged, "but it was a pure joy to work together."

The feeling was very much mutual, with Origi also describing his time under Klopp as "pure joy".

"When you don’t play, you feel hurt, but beyond that you always try to put the team first," he explained ahead of his departure. "And I know that we have an unbelievable coach who makes the right decisions – we need to win games.

"In my time here, we won so many games and being able to put the team first has been my thing. Every time, I still felt like every footballer. I wanted to play but, in the end, I knew there was a higher purpose. I feel that my purpose is done here in Liverpool."

Unfortunately for Origi, while leaving Liverpool was undeniably a positive development for his first-team prospects, he's seen even less game time since moving to Milan.

It has been subsequently claimed that Milan's data department had doubts over the signing of Origi simply because there was very little data to work with. He may have made 175 appearances for Liverpool, but only 68 of those had been starts.

Nonetheless, former directors Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara still felt that snapping up Origi was something of a no-brainer given he was available on a free transfer - and had still managed 41 goals and 13 assists despite his restricted role at Anfield.

However, Origi was given a four-year contract worth €4 million (£3.4m/$4.4m) per season, making him the second-highest-paid player at the club at the time, after Rafael Leao - and that investment was ultimately used as a stick with which to beat Maldini and Massara in spite of the key role their transfers had played in the club's 2021-22 Serie A title triumph.

Origi certainly looked like a complete waste of money in his first season at San Siro, during which he netted just twice in 36 games, but there were at least some mitigating circumstances.

Origi had arrived in Italy injured, having picked up a thigh problem that ruled him out of the final few games of Liverpool's 2021-22 season - and that issue hindered him during his first couple of months at Milan. He did manage a goal and an assist on his first start, against Monza in October 2022, but struggled horribly for form and fitness thereafter.

By May, rumours were already rife that the Rossoneri wanted rid of Origi, but even then, Maldini was confident that Origi - much like another maligned summer signing, Charles De Ketelaere, would eventually come good if he improved his decision-making.

“Origi has everything to be a great footballer," the legendary left-back told Sky Sport Italia in May 2023. "He has physique, technique, speed, shooting, right, left. He actually struggles to make the right choice in the opponent's area, and this is a problem because he is a striker.

"Honestly, we expect a lot from him, we took him on a free transfer but it was a significant investment in terms of salary. But watching him in training, we know what he can do."

However, Maldini and Massara were forced out of the club last summer and Origi was immediately identified as a piece of dead wood that needed to be cleared.

Origi was loaned to Nottingham Forest for the 2023-24 season and spoke optimistically about finding some form back in England. "It feels like home because I practically grew up here," he told his new club's official website. Origi also said he was looking forward to what he was confident would be a "special year" for both him and the Premier League club.

However, while Forest survived a relegation battle, Origi did not contribute to their escape, failing to score a single league goal, with his only strike over the course of the entire campaign coming in an FA Cup clash with Bristol City.

So, while manager Nuno Espirto Santo insisted that Origi was "improving" towards the tail end of the season, it came as zero surprise to see him shipped back to San Siro during the summer. He wasn't exactly welcomed with open arms either, with Milan advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic publicly stating in July that Origi was no longer part of the senior side's plans and would instead train with Milano Futuro

Origi, though, has yet to even make a single appearance for the Rossoneri's reserve side, which is comprised mainly of Under-23s and plays in Serie C, and has now been left in a state of limbo after failing to secure a move away from Milan during the summer transfer window, despite reported interest from Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

What happens next, then, is anyone's guess, but if they do end up writing a book about Divock Origi, the ending is looking pretty bleak right now.