Things have not gone as planned for Divock Origi since his arrival at AC Milan on a free transfer from Liverpool in the summer, it would be fair to say.
La Gazzetta dello Sport recall how against Tottenham in London Origi hit the post in the final minutes when he could have sealed the tie, while his last goal dates back to the end of January against Sassuolo and it did not matter given the score was 5-1 at the time.
The Belgian arrived in the summer on a free transfer with a contract until 2026 at €4m net per season and has scored only two goals in 24 games this season, with 18 of those being in Serie A. His first came against Monza in the 4-1 win at San Siro, the second against the Neroverdi.
Against Monza away, he managed only one completed pass in 64 minutes, the worst record in the ‘top five’ European leagues. He has scored a goal on average every 339 minutes with only Luis Muriel (one goal every 694′), Zirkzee (526′), Gytkjaer (471′) and Botheim (339′) doing worse among those who have scored.
Daniel Maldini meanwhile averages a goal every 194 minutes having scored against his father’s side (and parent club) Milan and against Simone Inzaghi’s Inter. Arkadiusz Milik scored every 163′, and even Joaquin Correa (141 minutes, 3 goals) who are considered flops.
The best remains Cholito Simeone who has three league goals in 193 minutes played having been signed as a deputy to Victor Osimhen by the runaway league leaders Napoli. One every 64. Not bad either Nicolò Cambiaghi from Empoli, one of the revelations of Serie A: for him one goal every 189 minutes, with 567 overall. Augustin Alvarez del Sassuolo is also added. The Uruguayan scored once but only played 299 minutes.
So far in 2023 Origi has only started against Monza and Inter. Against the Nerazzurri he was replaced after less than an hour, while at the U-Power Stadium he lasted 62 minutes. Against Udinese Olivier Giroud will be disqualified, so Pioli will choose one between the Belgian and the 41-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Ibra has a couple of things in his favour such as the fact he has not lost in 14 games against Udinese while in the last two games he has scored two goals against them, but if he were chosen over Origi it would say a lot about the latter.
I’m just winging this one but it would be best to put in Origi instead of leao and Ibra at center for this match. Maybe Origi will at least put in accurate passing. Leao isn’t acting like a bum he’s becoming a bum smh
Zlatan or Rebic to cover for Giroud. Leave Origi on the bench if we want 3 points.
Sure, Rebic isn’t the man he used to be but still has more goals than Origi & CDK combined – and with very limited minutes.
Pls play Rebic instead