After spending more than two years off the pitch, fans were excited to finally see Dele Alli return to professional football.
But his highly anticipated comeback with Italian side Como didn’t go at all how anyone hoped.
Instead of a triumphant return, Alli’s debut ended in disaster—just 10 minutes into the game.
Sent Off Before He Could Even Settle In
The 29-year-old midfielder, who once dazzled for Tottenham and England, was thrown back into the spotlight during Como’s clash against AC Milan in March.
It was his first professional appearance since February 2023.
But it didn’t last long.
Only minutes after stepping onto the field, Alli received a straight red card for a foul on Milan’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Como eventually lost 2-1—marking their only defeat in their last seven games.
Fabregas Keeps It Real About Alli’s Position
Como’s manager, Cesc Fabregas, didn’t hold back when discussing Alli’s rocky return.
Speaking in a press conference ahead of their next match against Parma, Fabregas made it clear that chances must be earned.
“I play those who train well and earn a spot during the week,” Fabregas said pointedly.
“Dele Alli needs to keep working. He had his chance in Milan, but was sent off and then got injured.”
His message was simple: hard work comes first.
No exceptions, not even for a former Premier League star.
A Funny Text With Loftus-Cheek Lightens the Mood
Despite the harsh reality of the red card, Alli kept his sense of humor.
After the match, he shared a hilarious text exchange with the very player he fouled—Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
“Pic looks bad tho,” Alli joked, referring to a photo of the challenge. “I just tried to clip ur heel.
When the ref went to VAR, I didn’t even know it was for me.”
Loftus-Cheek’s response? “Bro I had no clue. I stayed down coz I was blowing.”
It’s clear there’s no bad blood between the two midfielders—just some awkward timing and a bit of bad luck.
Fabregas Offers No Sympathy After Red Card
While Alli and Loftus-Cheek could laugh about it afterward, Fabregas wasn’t amused.
He told DAZN that Alli “perhaps didn’t deserve” the opportunity to play, having only trained with the squad for two weeks.
“To make that kind of mistake with his experience—it’s a grave error,” Fabregas said bluntly.
“We were pushing hard for 2-2, and he left us down to 10 men.”
For a player trying to relaunch his career, it was a tough blow.
From England Star to Rebuilding in Italy
Dele Alli’s fall from grace has been steep. Once a mainstay in the England squad, he starred at Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup.
But since his last cap six years ago, his career has been riddled with inconsistency and injury.
His stint at Everton brought little success, and a loan spell in Turkey with Besiktas didn’t do much to reignite his spark either.
Before his brief Como appearance, he hadn’t played a competitive game since early 2023.
Despite it all, Alli hasn’t lost hope. Earlier this year, he revealed that he’s still eyeing a spot in the England squad for the 2026 World Cup.
What’s Next for Dele?
For now, the message from Fabregas is clear: train harder and prove you deserve another shot.
With key players like Sergi Roberto and Dossena sidelined, there may be an opening—but only if Alli can earn it.
As Como push forward in Serie A and continue their solid form, fans will be watching closely to see whether Alli gets a real second chance—or if this was his last shot.