There is a player who has been off the football radar for two years but still receives a monthly salary from AC Milan.
That player is Divock Origi, signed in the summer of 2022 after the Scudetto win and out of the squad since 2024 following an unsuccessful loan at Nottingham Forest. The Belgian striker is on a contract worth €4.5 million per year, expiring at the end of this season. At Casa Milan, however, there is concern that two other players might follow a similar path: Yacine Adli and Ismael Bennacer.
The situation
Last season, both Adli and Bennacer finished the year on loan. Adli spent the whole season at Fiorentina, starting high in Palladino’s pecking order and performing well initially, before fading as the weeks went by. Bennacer, after winning the Supercoppa, was loaned to Marseille for six months but did not do enough to earn a permanent deal. Neither player was redeemed and both returned to Milan. They were informed well before the July 7 preseason camp that they were not in Massimiliano Allegri’s or the club’s future plans, and their representatives were tasked with finding an exit solution that suited all parties. As of September 4, with most transfer windows in Europe and elsewhere closed, Adli and Bennacer are still training with Milan Futuro.
Risk of termination
Offers and interest have not been lacking, but both players have resisted so far. Each received approaches from Saudi Arabia, though that destination is not appealing at the moment. Adli also drew attention from Ligue 1 and Serie A clubs, including Sassuolo, but he was not convinced. The markets still open today are Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Greece, which represent Milan’s best hope of offloading these two surplus players. Trabzonspor are pressing strongly for Bennacer, though the Algerian is not enthusiastic. For Adli, there are no significant offers on the table. If no deal is reached before these markets close, Milan are considering terminating both contracts: Adli’s runs until June 2026, while Bennacer’s is valid until 2027.
Source: Milan News
