AC Milan have completed the signing of Divock Origi, with the former Liverpool forward joining on a free transfer.
The 27-year-old arrives following a successful spell at Anfield, where he also gained valuable experience as part of a squad that won a Premier League title and Champions League among other trophies.
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Admittedly, Origi perhaps didn’t play enough during his time on Merseyside having managed 41 goals and 18 assists in 175 appearances after joining them in 2014, but he’ll now look forward to a new chapter in his career having joined the Rossoneri, as confirmed by the club’s statement.
So, what does the Belgian international bring to Stefano Pioli’s squad and how does he strengthen us?
Origi adds new dynamic to AC Milan attack
Historically, Milan have thrived with a target man up top, a physical presence who can provide a focal point to our attack and allow others to play around him and work off him.
Over the past two seasons we’ve seen Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Olivier Giroud carry out that role, and given we’ve secured back-to-back Champions League qualifications as well as the Serie A title last year, it’s a formula that still works and is effective more often than not.
That said, Ibrahimovic turns 41 later this year while Giroud will turn 36, and so beyond merely looking for a younger version of that profile of player, Milan also need less predicability and more versatility in our options in the squad.
Ultimately, that is what Origi provides. Time will tell whether or not he can prove to be a more clinical, prolific presence in the final third if given a more prominent role, but his pace, movement, running off the ball and directness can give Milan something different in attack and that is what we need to be successful when trying to compete on multiple fronts.
Pioli was hampered with no Plan B last season, and while he still made it work, if he had a different look that he could bring on to stretch defences, create space for others and give us a different kind of threat to be less one dimensional, perhaps it could have made life a lot easier for him.
He’s got that in Origi now, and while we certainly still need more and we’re not expecting the Belgian forward to be crowned the Capocannoniere this season, he gives us much needed depth, competition and versatility with his ability to play different roles across the frontline.
It’s a smart signing from Milan, and one that will hopefully pay dividends in key moments over the course of a gruelling season both domestically and in Europe given Origi’s tendency to score important goals. It’s hoped though that there is more to come in the transfer market as we need more quality in the final third to step up another level.