Transfer of Divock Origi from Liverpool to AC Milan is made more pleasant by a special ruling

After leaving Liverpool, Divock Origi is about to finalize a transfer to Serie A champions AC Milan.

Its tough to imagine that Divock Origi is no longer that player who would come off the bench as a replacement and be ready to make an impact for Liverpool on the biggest stages.

With his cult hero status secured, the 27-year-old left Anfield and is currently in Italy to complete his transfer to Serie A champions AC Milan. The deal is anticipated to be finalized very soon.

Origi, whom Liverpool paid £10 million for in 2014, leaves on a free transfer, but his eight years at Anfield—during which he scored 41 goals in 176 appearances across all competitions—have cemented his place in Reds lore for his crucial role in some of the team’s greatest successes of the modern era. He scored himself in the 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in Madrid to advance Jurgen Klopp’s team to the Champions League final, which they would eventually win. His goal in the 4-0 thrashing of Barcelona back in May 2019 ranks among the greatest moments in Anfield history.

Origi has been yearning for a more prominent first-team role after building his Liverpool career on telling contributions from the bench. He is anticipated to see more action once he completes his move to the Rossoneri, a team now owned by RedBird Capital Partners, the US investment fund that owns an 11% stake in Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group.

According to reports, Origi’s contract at Anfield included a weekly wage of over £60,000. According to reports in Italian media, his weekly pay will increase to £65,000, but in practice, the Belgian in Italy will keep a much larger portion of that amount.

The Growth Decree, a piece of legislation that was initially created in Italy to offer large tax incentives to foreign employees but was soon extended to sports, has been in effect for some time.

Players arriving from abroad over the age of 20 who make more than €1 million a year in salary are granted substantial tax reduction. These tax breaks are contingent on the player retaining tax residence in Italy for at least two years and are valid for three years following the date of the relocation.

For Origi, the £5,000 pay increase per week will be far more valuable than it may first appear to be. Italian clubs have used this as a tool to try and entice players to Serie A from abroad, as it helps them to keep wage spend down due to the economic benefits the player arrival brings.

Origi’s move is one that makes sense from both a competitive and financial point of view.