Divock Origi will not play a role in the Champions League final in Liverpool against Real Madrid, but the club has made sure the striker is still involved.
It will not be the dream final that many have been waiting for for Origi, who has been ruled out of tonight’s final due to a muscle injury he suffered during training last weekend.
But the Belgian, who is confirmed to be leaving on the expiration of his contract on July 1, is still part of Liverpool’s squad in Paris with Jurgen Klopp eager to keep him close.
Origi watched the Reds do their open training session at the Stade de France on Friday evening and stayed with the squad at the team’s hotel before leaving for final preparations on Saturday morning.
The 27-year-old is expected to join the bench, but will not be part of the 23-man squad, with third-team goalkeeper Adrian and fifth-team center-back Rhys Williams, the other two players. walkers will probably be omitted.
Although a free transfer to AC Milan is nearing completion, this is a sign of Klopp’s consideration for his long 27th service.
Origi is one of five current first team members that Klopp inherited from his first day in office in 2015, along with Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Roberto Firmino and Joe Gomez.
He was on loan at Wolfsburg when Liverpool reached their first Champions League final with Klopp in 2018, but played a key role on the road to Madrid a year later.
It was Origi who scored the winner against Barcelona in the incredible comeback of the semi-finals, before scoring the second goal in the 2-0 victory over Tottenham in the final.
Surprisingly, only four of his 41 goals with Liverpool reached the Champions League, but despite that, he is a true legend of the club for his role in reaching number 6.
There is no sign of Loris Karius, who will also be leaving with a free transfer this summer in Paris.