Former England midfielder sees red just minutes into his long-awaited return to professional football
Dele Alli’s long-anticipated comeback to competitive football took a devastating turn when he was sent off less than 10 minutes into his debut for Serie A side Como.
The 28-year-old, once a standout performer for Tottenham and a key player in England’s 2018 World Cup semi-final run, has been striving to revive his career. Como manager Cesc Fabregas took a chance on the midfielder, bringing him in before Christmas in hopes of reigniting his talent.
Making his first official appearance since February 2023, when he last played on loan at Besiktas, Dele entered the pitch in the 81st minute of Como’s 2-1 loss against AC Milan at the iconic San Siro. However, his long-awaited return quickly turned sour.
As stoppage time began, Dele made a reckless challenge on Milan’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek, his former England teammate. Initially, referee Matteo Marchetti issued a yellow card, but after a VAR review, the decision was upgraded to a straight red, cutting Dele’s comeback short.
Milan full-back Kyle Walker, another ex-England teammate, attempted to plead Dele’s case with the referee, but the verdict remained unchanged. Now, just minutes into his Serie A career, Dele is set to serve a suspension.
After the match, Como boss Fabregas expressed his disappointment:
“Dele is a player who can score goals, but he still has a lot to improve. This was a serious mistake from someone with his experience. He left the team in a difficult position—that’s the biggest negative of the night.”
Dele’s return to football comes after a tumultuous period in his personal life. He has openly discussed his struggles, revealing he endured childhood abuse and later battled mental health challenges and an addiction to sleeping pills.
His journey back to the sport has been filled with hardship, and while his debut didn’t go as planned, Dele will now look ahead to making amends once he serves his suspension.
