Football Italia
·16 July 2024
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·16 July 2024
Divock Origi and Fode Ballo-Toure were meant to be training with the new Milan Futuro squad after failed loan spells in England, but are nowhere to be seen.
The Rossoneri have followed in the footsteps of Juventus and Atalanta in becoming the third Italian club to set up a reserve team that will play in Serie C.
Although mainly made up of Under-23 players, there is some room for older figures, and advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic had said in a press conference earlier this month that Ballo-Toure and Origi would be with them.
However, Sky Sport Italia note that both players have never worked with this new team or coach Daniele Bonera at Milanello.
It is more likely they are instead trying to find new solutions for their future, having returned from disappointing loan spells at Fulham and Nottingham Forest respectively.
Those loans had options to buy that were not taken up, leaving them as effectively outcasts weighing on the Milan wage bill.
Origi was signed as a free agent in 2022 after his contract with Liverpool ran down, but made just 36 appearances for the Italians, scoring two goals and providing one assist.
His current deal runs to June 2026.
Full-back Ballo-Toure was purchased from AS Monaco in 2021 for €5.4m and his contract runs to June 2025, playing only 26 games for the club.
He has been linked with a return to England for Watford.