Dele Alli’s introduced his return to soccer with a purple card lower than 10 minutes after coming off the bench in a 2-1 loss to AC Milan.
Alli, whose final aggressive look got here practically 750 days in the past for Besiktas, was introduced on within the 81st minute for Como midfielder and goalscorer Lucas Da Cunha.
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But it surely wasn’t lengthy earlier than the previous Tottenham man’s debut changed into an evening to neglect.
Alli tried to dispossess Milan midfielder and former England teammate Ruben Loftus-Cheek however solely managed to step on the again of his rival’s calf because the referee brandished a yellow card.
Nevertheless, the referee was informed to evaluation the incident on the pitchside monitor and it wasn’t lengthy earlier than he returned to the pitch to overturn the choice.
Regardless of the determined pleas of Alli’s Como teammates and Milan’s Kyle Walker, who performed alongside the midfielder at Tottenham, the referee was unmoved and despatched him off within the 91st minute.
Alli’s purple card had no influence on the end result, as Da Cunha’s opener was cancelled out by Christian Pulisic earlier than Tijjani Reijnders netted the winner within the seventy fifth minute.
The defeat was Como’s 14th within the league and left them sitting in thirteenth, six factors away from the relegation zone. As for Milan, they’re seventh on 47 factors.
Talking on Alli’s sending off, boss Fabregas mentioned: “It was at that second when Milan went 2-1 up and Sergi Roberto was meant to come back on, however I’d favor to provide him one other two weeks to coach so he will be prepared to start out in opposition to Empoli.
“Dele Alli is a participant who can rating objectives, he maybe didn’t deserve this chance as a result of he has solely been working with us for 2 weeks and has loads to enhance.
“It’s a grave mistake, one which we must always not see from a participant of his expertise. It was a transparent purple card, there’s nothing to be mentioned about that, he left the group all the way down to 10 males throughout a vital second once we have been pushing for 2-2.
“That’s the most damaging factor about this night, however we preserve going,” the previous Arsenal star defined.
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Alli lastly spoke concerning the incident and wrote on Instagram: “I used to be all the time going to announce my return indirectly after these previous 2 years, would reasonably it had been with a objective however feels good to be again.”
Alli’s debut got here nearly two weeks after he was named on Como’s bench for the primary time in what was his greatest step in the direction of a return, though he didn’t enter the competition in what was a 2-1 loss to Roma.
The previous Tottenham and Everton midfielder was as soon as once more an unused substitute for Como’s subsequent Serie A conflict, this time a 1-1 draw with Venezia.
Alli started coaching with Cesc Fabregas’ facet over Christmas, though the Spanish nice was reluctant to assert whether or not it will result in something.
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“Let’s see. It might be to assist him get in form and nothing extra,” Fabregas mentioned on the time.
However Fabregas elected to signal Alli on a everlasting foundation because the 37-cap England worldwide penned a deal till 2026, with the choice of an additional 12 months.
“The membership believes in Dele’s potential and is dedicated to serving to him discover his greatest type,” Fabregas mentioned upon signing Alli.
“His expertise and management qualities will definitely be helpful to the group.”
Alli’s return to soccer, even when it resulted in devastation, is the newest chapter in a rollercoaster few years for the midfielder.
In a highly-emotional interview with Gary Neville in 2023, Alli revealed he contemplated retiring at age 24 and even hung out in a rehab facility to enhance his psychological well being.
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Alli additionally revealed he was sexually assaulted on the age of six and commenced dealing medication on the age of eight earlier than he was adopted on the age of 12.
He additionally mentioned he turned hooked on sleeping tablets in an effort to quell his psychological trauma and worries the issue is extra widespread in soccer.
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