Football Italia
·8 July 2024
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·8 July 2024
Zlatan Ibrahimovic says Divock Origi and Fodé Ballo-Touré are not part of the first-team project, so they will train with Milan Futuro, the Rossoneri’s youth squad playing in Italy’s third division.
Origi and Ballo-Touré are not part of the Milan project with new coach Paulo Fonseca, so they will be training with the Rossoneri’s second squad, which was officially launched at the end of June.
It is called Milan Futuro and will play in Italy’s third division, Serie C.
“Origi and Ballo-Touré are called up, but for Milan Futuro. They will not be part of the first team,” Ibrahimovic said during Paulo Fonseca’s unveiling press conference on Monday morning.
Milan Futuro will be coached by ex-Milan defender Daniele Bonera, while former La Galaxy director Jovan Kirovski will be in charge of the Rossoneri’s Youth Sector from 2024-25.
Origi, a Champions League winner with Liverpool, joined the Rossoneri on a free transfer from the Reds in 2022 but didn’t settle in at San Siro, scoring just two goals in 36 appearances.
He spent the last season on loan at Nottingham Forest, but he was once again disappointing, with just one goal in 22 matches.
The Belgian striker is one of the highest earners at San Siro with a €4m-a-year salary and the Rossoneri hope their decision to include Origi in their second team will push the striker out of the club this summer.
Ballo-Touré has returned from a loan spell at Fulham, where he collected just eight appearances across all competitions in 2023-24.