Dele Alli takes huge step towards career revival two years on from last match
Dele Alli was named in the Como matchday squad for the first time this weekend. The former Tottenham and Everton midfielder has not played a match in more than two years, but has made the biggest step towards a return. Alli could soon be back on the football pitch after two years outInstagram / @18albertomp The 28-year-old was listed on Como’s squad for their clash with Roma on Sunday as a debut could be looming. The club posted their squad sheet with Alli listed as the number 8 and they said: “First one for Dele! We’re buzzing, just like you guys.” He started training with Cesc Fabregas’ side over Christmas and the club were cautious over what that meant. “Let’s see. It would be to help him get in shape and nothing more,” Fabregas said at the time. However, it appears Alli quickly proved himself and penned a contract until 2026. The last time he played a match was back in February 2023, for Besiktas, while on loan from Everton. A groin injury cut short that temporary spell and he saw his Toffees contract expire in June 2023. But he had been allowed to use the Toffees‘ Finch Farm training facility to build up his fitness ahead of a potential comeback. That’s when Como stepped in and gave him his chance. Alli has struggled for regular over the last few years after seeing his role and game time diminish at Tottenham. Alli earned a contract at Como after training with the clubGetty View Tweet: https://t.co/qSBI1R7lqr He played 269 games for Spurs before signing by Everton for £10million. Just 13 appearances later, he became a free agent. Injury problems continued and that stopped him from signing another Premier League contract. In July 2023, he opened up on how he became addicted to sleeping pills upon his return from the stint in Turkey. “Now is the right time for me to tell people what’s been going on,” he said. “It’s tough to talk about because it’s something I’ve hid for a long time. Alli was once a rising star at Tottenham, but has struggled in recent yearsAFP “I’m scared to talk about it. “When I came back from Turkey I found out I needed an operation I was in a bad place mentally and I decided to go to a modern day rehab facility for mental health. “They deal with addiction and trauma. I felt it was time for me. “You can’t be told to go there – you have to know and make the decision yourself or it’s not going to work. “I was caught in a bad cycle and things that were doing me harm.” He also went on to open up about how he was sexually abused as a child by a friend of his mum’s. He said: “Everton were amazing and supported I will be grateful to them forever. “For them to be so honest and understanding I couldn’t ask for anything more during a time I was making the biggest decision of my life – doing something I was scared to do. I’m happy I’ve done it.” Making the Como squad is a big step back for Alli, having admitted he contemplated retiring when he was 24.
Dele Alli was named in the Como matchday squad for the first time this weekend.
The former Tottenham and Everton midfielder has not played a match in more than two years, but has made the biggest step towards a return.
The 28-year-old was listed on Como’s squad for their clash with Roma on Sunday as a debut could be looming.
The club posted their squad sheet with Alli listed as the number 8 and they said: “First one for Dele! We’re buzzing, just like you guys.”
He started training with Cesc Fabregas’ side over Christmas and the club were cautious over what that meant.
“Let’s see. It would be to help him get in shape and nothing more,” Fabregas said at the time.
However, it appears Alli quickly proved himself and penned a contract until 2026.
The last time he played a match was back in February 2023, for Besiktas, while on loan from Everton.
A groin injury cut short that temporary spell and he saw his Toffees contract expire in June 2023.
But he had been allowed to use the Toffees‘ Finch Farm training facility to build up his fitness ahead of a potential comeback.
That’s when Como stepped in and gave him his chance.
Alli has struggled for regular over the last few years after seeing his role and game time diminish at Tottenham.
He played 269 games for Spurs before signing by Everton for £10million.
Just 13 appearances later, he became a free agent.
Injury problems continued and that stopped him from signing another Premier League contract.
In July 2023, he opened up on how he became addicted to sleeping pills upon his return from the stint in Turkey.
“Now is the right time for me to tell people what’s been going on,” he said.
“It’s tough to talk about because it’s something I’ve hid for a long time.
“I’m scared to talk about it.
“When I came back from Turkey I found out I needed an operation I was in a bad place mentally and I decided to go to a modern day rehab facility for mental health.
“They deal with addiction and trauma. I felt it was time for me.
“You can’t be told to go there – you have to know and make the decision yourself or it’s not going to work.
“I was caught in a bad cycle and things that were doing me harm.”
He also went on to open up about how he was sexually abused as a child by a friend of his mum’s.
He said: “Everton were amazing and supported I will be grateful to them forever.
“For them to be so honest and understanding I couldn’t ask for anything more during a time I was making the biggest decision of my life – doing something I was scared to do. I’m happy I’ve done it.”
Making the Como squad is a big step back for Alli, having admitted he contemplated retiring when he was 24.
