Zlatan Ibrahimovic did not mince his words regarding the fate of Fode Ballo-Touré and Divock Origi at AC Milan, who have not been called to train with the first team.
As Calciomercato.com reports, the two returned to Milan after their respective failed loans with Fulham and Nottingham Forest, but they are no longer part of the club’s plans and they are looking to offload them.
Neither of them have been called up for the first team under Paulo Fonseca, but Ibrahimovic confirmed that they will train with the U23s: “It’s not true that they haven’t been called up. The two of them have been called up, but for the Milan Futuro team. They are not part of the first team.”
The one who weighs the most on the accounts is inevitably Origi because of the €4m net per season salary he gets, which is still €5.24m gross despite the Growth Decree. Ballo-Toure on the other hand has a €1.3m net salary and a yearly cost of €2.7m also considering the residual value of his transfer fee.
The Belgian’s contract expires on 30 June 2026, while the Senegalese’s runs out on 30 June 2025 and for both it is virtually impossible to imagine a sale that would allow the club to earn money.
Origi has a market in Saudi Arabia, but even last year when he chose Forest he refused the advances of the Saudi Pro League. With such a heavy salary it is difficult to imagine a move to a mid-table club.
The doors are more open on the economic side for Ballo-Touré, who however is burdened by his contract expiration which does not allow loans with options to buy, but only dry loans which would then make him a free agent at the end of the season that is about to begin.