Dele Alli’s latest bid to revive his football career has taken a sharp downturn, with reports from Italy suggesting the former England international has been removed from the Como squad by manager Cesc Fàbregas. The 29-year-old midfielder, once one of England’s brightest prospects, is now reportedly training alone as he contemplates an early retirement from the game.
Alli joined Como in January, signing with the then-Serie B club as they chased promotion to Italy’s top flight. With Fàbregas at the helm and a fresh start away from the English football spotlight, it appeared to be a promising opportunity for the ex-Tottenham Hotspur star to reset his career. Como secured promotion to Serie A for the 2024/25 season, and Alli was seen as a potential asset in their efforts to remain competitive in the top tier.
However, the situation has rapidly deteriorated. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Fàbregas has made the decision to exclude Alli from his plans for the upcoming campaign, effectively banishing him from the first-team setup. The midfielder has not featured in a competitive fixture since March, with that outing ending in disappointment and marking the start of his growing absence from squad selections.
Despite initial optimism surrounding his arrival, reports suggest that Fàbregas has grown increasingly frustrated with Alli’s form, fitness, and integration into the squad. Training away from the first team, Alli’s future at Como appears bleak, and with the transfer window open, the club may look to terminate his contract or seek a mutual agreement to part ways.
This latest chapter adds to a turbulent career that has seen the midfielder fall from grace after bursting onto the scene as a teenage sensation. After joining Tottenham from MK Dons in 2015, Alli quickly became a key figure for both club and country. He earned PFA Young Player of the Year honors and was a regular starter under Mauricio Pochettino, playing a vital role in Spurs’ run to the Champions League final in 2019.
However, injuries, inconsistency, and managerial changes led to a sharp decline in form. Alli struggled to rediscover his spark during subsequent stints with Everton and a brief loan to Turkish side Beşiktaş. His move to Como was seen as one last opportunity to relaunch his career, but that dream now appears to be slipping away.
Reports also indicate that retirement is a serious option being considered by Alli. With no immediate offers on the table and his prospects in top-tier European football diminishing, the player may choose to walk away from the game entirely at just 29 years old.
Neither Como nor Alli has issued an official statement regarding the situation, but the developments have sparked debate across social media and among football fans, many of whom remember his early career with admiration and sadness. Whether this is truly the end for Dele Alli remains to be seen, but the signs from Italy suggest that his time in Serie A could end far sooner than expected.