Dele Alli has stated that he intends to prove himself at Besiktas before returning to England, and that he hopes to play for his country again one day.
Dele joined Spurs from MK Dons for £5 million in 2015, and went on to make 269 appearances for the Lilywhites in all competitions, scoring 67 goals and assisting 61.
The midfielder was a key member of Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham team and was at his best under the Argentine.
However, towards the end of Pochettino’s reign, Dele’s form began to wane, and he struggled to establish himself consistently under Mourinho, Nuno, and Conte.
Dele featured in the infamous Tottenham Hotspur: All or Nothing documentary, where Jose Mourinho warned him what would happen if he took his eye off the ball.
And Dele Alli recently spoke to the Spor Arena (via EuroFoot) about his meeting with Mourinho. He said:
“My meeting with Mourinho was private, but when it was broadcasted in the documentary, everyone watched it.
“It was a good meeting. It was an interview where he wanted to give me motivation and said what he wanted from me. I can say that Valerien Ismael [Bestikas manager] is similar in terms of motivation.”
And when asked about his future, he said:
“When you are a young player in the Premier League, expectations can be low and when you score goals and start playing well, you naturally stand out. After going through a few difficult years, I wanted a new adventure unless I was playing.
“Everyone wants to play for the national team, it is the dream of every player. I definitely want to go back. I want to show myself here and come back.”
Dele Alli at his peak was one of the most enjoyable midfielders in the country and was compared to the likes of Gerrard and Lampard. And so it is sad to see a player’s potential go to waste the way Dele Alli’s has.
But there is no doubt in the player’s ability and if he can somehow get back to his very best, any team would be lucky to have him in their team.