Dele Alli breaks silence after red card just 10 minutes into return for Como | Football

Dele Alli admits it was a night of mixed emotions after he was sent off just ten minutes into his long-awaited return to first-team action for Como.

The former England attacking midfielder joined Serie A outfit Como on a free transfer in January in a bid to get his stuttering career back on track and was introduced in the 81st minute of the side’s clash with AC Milan on Saturday evening.

Alli had not played a single minute of senior football since as far back as February 2023, when he last featured for Besiktas, but his return did not go as he would have hoped at the San Siro.

With Como trailing 2-1, Alli raked his studs down Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s standing leg from behind and was initially shown a yellow card for the challenge.

However, this was soon upgraded to a red following a VAR review, despite the protestations of Alli’s ex-Tottenham team-mate Kyle Walker, leaving the visitors with only ten men on the field while seeking a late equaliser.

Hosts Milan held firm to come away from the contest with all three points and Como head coach Cesc Fabregas could not hide his frustrations over Alli’s sending off in a fiery post-match interview.

‘It’s not a mistake we should see from a player of his experience,’ Fabregas told DAZN shortly after the final whistle.

The Spaniard also suggested that Alli was perhaps undeserving of his opportunity and still had much to ‘improve’ before he could be considered a contender for his starting XI.

‘It was at that moment when Milan went 2-1 up and Sergi Roberto was meant to come on, but I’d prefer to give him another two weeks to train so he can be ready to start against Empoli,’ Fabregas added.

‘Dele Alli is a player who can score goals, he perhaps didn’t deserve this opportunity because he has only been working with us for two weeks and has a lot to improve.

‘It is a grave mistake, one that we should not see from a player of his experience.

‘It was a clear red card, there’s nothing to be said about that, he left the team down to ten men during a crucial moment when we were pushing for 2-2.

‘That is the most negative thing about this evening, but we keep going.’

This morning Alli took to Instagram to speak candidly over his feelings on the sending off, joking that he would rather have marked his comeback with a goal.

‘I was always going to announce my return in some way after these past 2 years, would rather it had been with a goal,’ Alli told his followers in an Instagram story.

‘But feels good to be back [love heart emoji].’

The sending off means Alli will be suspended for Como’s match at home to struggling Empoli next weekend, when Fabregas’ men will look to return to winning ways.

Como achieved promotion to Serie A at the end of the 2023/24 season and sit 13th in the Italian top flight after their loss to Milan, seven points clear of the relegation zone.

Alli’s comeback comes two-and-a-half years after he revealed heartbreaking details of his traumatic childhood, including the sexual abuse he suffered at the age of six.

The 28-year-old also opened up about his addiction to sleeping tablets and the explosive interview – conducted by Gary Neville on The Overlap – sent shockwaves around the footballing world.

In the days and weeks that followed, Alli received messages of love and support from fans, pundits and former team-mates alike, with the ex-Spurs star universally praised for sharing his painful story.

Despite a six-year absence from England duty, Alli revealed that the 2026 World Cup remained a target.

‘I know my level as a player and what I can get to. I know how good I can be when my head is in the right place and I’m feeling good,’ told Sky Sports last April.

‘It’s been tough for me, I’d say, this past eight months has been hard to watch.

‘You know you can set reminders on your phone? I have a reminder at 11 o’clock every day that says, “World Cup 2026”. That’s my aim for now.

‘I think that people will be like, “He hasn’t played in a year”, but I don’t care, I know my level. The only target I have is the World Cup right now.’

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