Ex-Tottenham star Dele Alli 'considering' next career move after fresh set-back

Ex-Tottenham Hotspur star Dele Alli is reportedly contemplating retirement - after being banished from Como's first-team by manager Cesc Fabregas. The 29-year-old signed an 18-month deal with the Serie A outfit in January after leaving Everton at the end of the 2023/24 season.

However, Dele hasn't featured for Como since he was sent off on his debut in a 2-1 defeat to AC Milan at the San Siro on March 15. After that, the midfielder was named in the match-day squad a further seven times by manager, Fabregas, but failed to add to his one and only competitive appearance for the Serie A outfit.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Dele, who spent seven years at Tottenham Hotspur after signing from MK Dons in 2015, has been "frozen out" by Fabregas and made to train with a "large contingent of Como players who aren't currently on the roster" of the Italians.

READ MORE: Marc Guehi signs, £45m transfer agreed - Tottenham dream XI vs Burnley for Premier League opener

READ MORE: Son Heung-min asks to leave Tottenham with LAFC looking to seal transfer

The report from the Italian publication adds that the England international was "harshly" criticised by the one-time Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder after his sending off against the seven-time European champions - coming up five months ago.

Now, following the £25million signing of Martin Baturina from Dinamo Zagreb, coupled with the development of Lucas da Cunha and Maxence Caqueret, Dele has been deemed surplus to requirements in Italy.

And in a fresh twist on Friday afternoon, La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that - after a sorry decline in both form and fitness in recent years - Dele is contemplating whether to call time on his career at just 29-years-old.

Dele has endured a difficult time since leaving Tottenham in 2022 and spoke candidly about his difficult upbringing in an emotional interview back in 2023.

The midfielder was regarded as one of the brightest talents in world football and shone under Mauricio Pochettino, scoring 22 goals in all competitions during the 2017/18 campaign. Dele would play a key role in the Spurs' squad that reached the Champions League final and made 37 appearances for England.

Injuries would derail his remarkable ascent and spells with Everton and Besiktas would not act as a catalyst to kick-start his career again. Now, with a year to run on his Como contract, Alli is reportedly considering retirement.