Serie A facet Como took a major gamble by signing Dele Alli as a free agent, bringing within the midfielder who hadn’t performed knowledgeable match in over two years. Nonetheless, his long-awaited debut in opposition to AC Milan resulted in disappointment, as he was despatched off regardless of Kyle Walker’s plea to the referee.
As soon as thought to be one among England’s brightest skills at Tottenham Hotspur, Alli’s profession took a downturn on account of psychological well being struggles, resulting in a prolonged restoration course of that sidelined him from aggressive motion for almost two years.
Como head coach Cesc Fabregas handed Alli his return to the pitch in a vital Serie A Matchday 29 conflict in opposition to Milan. With the rating at 2-1, the Englishman changed Lucas Da Cunha within the 81st minute in an try to assist his staff discover an equalizer. Nonetheless, his return took a disastrous flip.
Within the 89th minute, Milan’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek received possession and surged ahead on the counterattack, solely to be introduced down from behind by Alli. Initially, referee Matteo Marchetti issued a yellow card. However after a VAR evaluate, replays revealed that Alli had stomped immediately on Loftus-Cheek’s ankle, a reckless problem that led the referee to improve the reserving to a straight purple card.
Even Milan’s Kyle Walker was telling the referee to not undergo with it 👀
Simply 9 minutes after making his first look in soccer after two years out, Como’s Dele Alli sees purple ☹️
The incident marked a irritating comeback for Alli, whose final skilled look had been on February 26, 2023. Including to the drama, AC Milan defender Kyle Walker—Alli’s former teammate at Tottenham—tried to intervene, even grabbing the referee’s hand in an effort to alter his thoughts. Walker, nicely conscious of the struggles Alli has confronted, tried to plead his case, however Marchetti stood agency on his determination.
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Fabregas reacts to Alli’s debut
Fabregas, one of many key figures behind Alli’s signing, included the Englishman within the squad for the primary time since his January arrival. Talking within the post-match press convention, the Spanish coach gave his candid evaluation of Alli’s purple card:
“After they scored the 2-1, Sergi Roberto was about to come back in, however I most well-liked to offer him extra time to work. Dele is a participant who can rating objectives. I gave him a chance that possibly he didn’t deserve as a result of he arrived simply two weeks in the past.
“He wants to enhance and work tougher. It’s a severe mistake contemplating his expertise. A transparent purple card—he left the staff with one man down after we have been pushing for the equalizer,” Fabregas added, making it clear that Alli has a lot to show in his bid to revive his profession.