Former manager in the Belgium national team, Vital Borkelmans, spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport and discussed some players linked with a move to the AC Milan club:
"Origi? A happy man and a hard worker, a bit like Leao. I have seen some photos in which the Portuguese laughs while he runs, I think they will be happy. I saw Divock score a historic goal and then laugh in front of the queen. In 2014, Origi scored for Russia and became the youngest Belgian player to ever score for the national team. He was 17 years old and a few months old. At the end of the tournament, concluded in the quarter-finals, we are received at the palace by Queen Mathilde. She mistook Him for Romelu Lukaku. And of course everyone was laughing. Origi is like that, a golden boy, cheerful, available. A hard worker."
Vital Borkelmans on if Origi is worthy of playing for AC Milan:
"Absolutely yes. There's his age, potential and being affordable. And then he doesn't feel the pressure, he has always scored important goals."
Origi, however, had many injuries:
"It is true, but when he is well, he is decisive. If Liverpool won the Champions League in 2019, the credit goes to him too. Double to Barcelona, goal in the final against Tottenham. If you are not a top player, especially from a mental point of view, you don't do these things. His qualities? Physical strength and speed. When I first saw him play he was a winger in Lille, and I think that's his role. In the last two years the real Origi has not been seen, but he has always had great mental strength. When you put one thing in your head, that's it."
What are his negative traits?
"None. Joking aside, he's never been a 20-goal-a-season player. After all, for a long time he played the attacking wing. In 2014 we took him to the World Cup for his unpredictability and inspiration. We knew that someone like this, starting from the bench, would have done something. Just to play a minute, he would break the world. Against Russia, we sent him to warm up at the beginning of the second half. We needed someone who exploited the spaces. The greatest strength of him. I looked into his eyes and said to (Marc) Wilmots, 'he'll score a goal'. And in fact he scored."
On AC Milan target Origi's ideal role:
"If he's a left-winger? For me, yes. But, he can play all the attacking roles. He has been the central striker for several years now, Klopp has been good at improving him. Milan are making a good deal, I already can see him well with Giroud."
On Charles De Ketelaere:
"I consider him the Belgian Totti. He sees passing lines that others don't. He has a technique... In the last year he has learned to score. With Brugge he played as a false 9 scoring almost 20 goals."
On AC Milan's Alexis Saelemaekers:
"At Anderlecht, he played as right-back. Pioli improved him a lot. With De Ketelaere, however, Milan would make a leap in quality."
De Ketelaere in attacking midfield and Origi up front, what do you think?
"That's a golden couple."
