Former Liverpool star Divock Origi has found life tough after leaving Merseyside – and the Belgian’s situation has now hit a new low.

It’s claimed Origi is playing in AC Milan’s youth team while awaiting a summer exit. Origi joined Milan on a free transfer at the end of his Liverpool contract in 2022, but his first season with the Italian giants was underwhelming, scoring just twice from 36 games.

Consequently, Milan soon decided the striker was surplus to requirements. Left out of their squad for the opening matches of the 2023/24 season, he was loaned to Nottingham Forest last September, with the deal including an option to buy.

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However, Forest decided against activating such a clause as Origi struggled in the East Midlands, scoring only once in 22 games. Forest’s transfer stance became clear during the final weeks of the campaign as the striker was left as an unused substitute.

The 29-year-old is now back with Milan, who have a new manager in charge in Paulo Fonseca. But there will be no reprieve for Origi, who still has another two years left to run on his contract. AC Milan reported back for pre-season on Monday, but Origi’s name was absent from the squad list of players who took part that was published by the club.

And in a press conference, Milan legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who played alongside Origi and is now a senior adviser to the club after hanging up his boots, confirmed that the striker had been banished to Milan Futuro, the club’s youth team.

“It’s not true that they haven’t been called up,” Ibrahimovic declared at Fonesca’s unveiling. “The two of them (Origi and Fode Ballo Toure) have been called up, but for the Milan Futuro team. They are not part of the first team.”