Dele Alli is SENT OFF just 10 minutes into his return to football after more than two years – as former Spurs team-mate Kyle Walker pleads with referee to show mercy
Dele Alli has been sent off just 10 minutes after the player appeared for the first time on the pitch over the last two years.
The former England international has finally made his debut for his new side, Como, after joining them during the winter transfer window.
However, he could have enjoyed a better first game for Cesc Fabregas’s team, as the 28-year-old was shown a red card during Saturday’s clash against AC Milan.
Como arrived at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza full of hopes as the Serie A side are enjoying a successful second half of the season, and the first-division newcomers are sitting in 13th place in the standings.
AC Milan, meanwhile, endure a challenging campaign under new manager Sergio Conceicao as the team often lack balance, mainly on the left flank, which featured former team leaders Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao.
Fabregas’s side scored the opener in the 33rd minute following a Lucas Da Cunha strike from outside the box, assisted by Real Madrid academy product Nico Paz.
Dele Alli has been shown a red card just 10 minutes after the 28-year-old made his first appearance on the pitch over the last two years
The 28-year-old appeared to commit a foul on another former Premier League star, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, in the 81st minute
However, despite an excellent display by the Serie A newcomers, the Rossoneri cancelled their efforts out with a strike from former Chelsea star Christian Pulisic, followed by another goal from Tijjani Reijnders.
AC Milan have attempted to keep the ball possession in a game where they conceded 15 shots in total, while Como applied a high and personal pressing.
Alli – who made his appearance on the pitch in the 81st minute – tried to steal Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s ball but only ended up being penalised with a red card following a lengthy VAR check.
The 28-year-old’s former England team-mate, Kyle Walker, appeared to demand the referee to reconsider his decision, seemingly feeling sorry for his highly anticipated comeback to football.
The incident comes after Alli did not feature on a field for the past two years, with his last game occurring in February 2023, playing for Besiktas in a goalless draw against Antalyaspor.
In July 2023, he followed with a speech which made headlines about becoming addicted to sleeping pills during his time in Turkey.
He was given a fresh start in January when he was signed by Como following several days spent in training with the team.
Two weeks ago, coach Fabregas finally finally named the former England star in a matchday squad.
However, he remained on the bench during both Como’s clashes against Roma and Venezia, despite his team’s failure to clinch a win.
More to follow…
