What has happened to Divock Origi?

When young Belgian striker Divock Origi burst onto the football scene at the 2014 World Cup, he seemed to be a star of the future. The 19-year-old became the youngest ever goalscorer at a World Cup and earned himself a £10million move to Premier League Liverpool.

However, after spending two seasons with the Reds the striker moved to German club Wolfsburg on loan on transfer deadline day in September. The aim was playing regularly and staying in the Belgium squad. After a decent start to life in Germany, his time with the Wolves has turned into a bit of a nightmare.

Struggled of late at Wolfsburg

Origi’s bright start with the Wolves saw him scored four times in his first nine league appearances. However, a number of circumstances have conspired to see the Belgium international score just once in his last 17 appearances.

The Wolves have had three different bosses this season, as they have struggled to break away from the Bundesliga relegation zone. Origi has also played out wide for the German side, something he is not unfamiliar with, but that moves him further away from the goal.

A first-half substitution in the Wolves 3-0 defeat at Hoffenheim angered the forward. There was even talk of him never playing for Wolfsburg again. He has made a very short cameo in a 1-0 home defeat against Schalke since the incident, though. However, the conditions at the German club do not currently seem ideal for the forward.

Looked to have promise at Liverpool

Origi is still just 22 and still has promise. He scored 21 goals in two seasons at Liverpool and there were signs that Origi could be a decent player in the future, even if he was not starting on a regular basis for the Reds.

If I remember rightly, he had a knack of scoring goals against Everton. Then again everybody seems to have a knack of scoring against my beloved Blues in recent times, especially in a Liverpool shirt.

Origi never quite convinced that he could grab a starting role. Maybe it was his age, or maybe he lacked confidence. There just seemed to be a missing ingredient.

He definitely had some football talent. However, how big that is only experience and time will tell. Origi is quick and mobile but maybe needs to develop the mental side of his game to make at the top level of football.

The Liverpool loanee recently stated that he sees himself at the top level of football in two or three years’ time. Origi certainly has to make some startling improvements in his game if he is to achieve his aim.

Place in the World Cup squad could be doubt

Origi may have burst onto the international football scene at the last World Cup, but his presence at this summer’s event is in doubt. The Red Devils have a good selection of forwards to choose from for this summer’s event.

The quality of the Belgian forwards has contributed to Belgium being one of the dark horses to lift the trophy in Russia at 11/1. Origi is in the latest Red Devils squad for Tuesday night’s friendly game against Saudi Arabia.

However, Roberto Martinez’s squad will be cut from the 27-man recent squad. With so many talented attacking players available to the Belgian boss, one of the forward players may miss out on the 23-man World Cup squad.

At the minute, Origi could be one of the players the national side could do without in Russia. The 22-year-old must somehow get back in the Wolfsburg’s starting line-up in when the Bundesliga resumes next weekend.

It has been a highly mixed four years since Origi scored that historic goal in Brazil. For the sake of the player, hopefully, he can now get his career back on track, as does have talent, even if it yet to be discovered how much.

Can Divock Origi revive his career back on track in the near future?