AC Milan find themselves in a challenging situation with two players, Divock Origi and Fodé Ballo-Touré, who have become outcasts within the club. As opportunities in Saudi Arabia and top European leagues like Portugal and the Netherlands have faded, the pair are increasingly likely to remain with Milan until at least January, albeit as unwanted members of the squad. The club’s last hope lies in potential transfers to Turkey.
Calciomercato report how both players have been deemed surplus to requirements by the club and manager Paulo Fonseca since the beginning of the 2024/25 season. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, in his role with the club, confirmed this stance during a pre-season press conference, stating that they would train with “Milan Futuro,” the club’s Serie C reserve team led by Daniele Bonera. This move was intended to encourage the players to find new clubs, but it has not had the desired effect.
Origi, who joined Milan on a free transfer from Liverpool in 2022, has a contract until 2026 with a substantial salary of €4.5 million net per season. After a disappointing first season and an unsuccessful loan spell at Nottingham Forest, the Belgian striker now trains alone in Florence with a personal trainer, hoping for a new opportunity. A move to Turkey, where the transfer window remains open until September 13, is still possible, though only tentative inquiries have been made so far.
Ballo-Touré’s situation is slightly different. The Senegalese full-back had opportunities to leave Milan, most notably to Saint-Etienne, but he rejected the move, much to Milan’s frustration. He had been hoping for another chance in the Premier League after a disappointing spell with Fulham, but no offers materialized. Like Origi, he now trains alone.
Milan’s management are pinning their hopes on the Turkish transfer market to resolve these situations. With the recent high-profile loan of Victor Osimhen to Galatasaray, there’s a glimmer of hope that Turkish clubs might show interest in Origi and Ballo-Touré before their window closes. Until then, both players remain in limbo, training separately from the squad as the club seeks a resolution to this challenging situation.
