Dele Alli: Where Did It All Go Wrong for Tottenham Hero?

• Dele Alli was one of the most sought-after midfielders in the Premier League during his early years at Tottenham.
• The Englishman endeared himself to fans and pundits with his silky footballing skills and sheer talent.
• However, the 27-year-old has seen his once-promising football journey take a sudden twist, with his career now hanging by the thread

Dele Alli was once regarded as one of England's hottest prospects.

At the height of his career, the midfielder made a name for himself in the world of football as one of the most sought-after players in Europe.

Alli shot to stardom in January 2016 when he made his debut for Tottenham Hotspur under the tutelage of Mauricio Pochettino.

The Englishman went on to score one of the Premier League's most delightful goals in recent times when he managed to control the ball, loft it over the head of Mile Jedinak before lashing a delightful volley beyond Wayne Hennessey.

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Alli's stunner earned him not just instant fame but also praise and admiration from several quarters of the English football.

What's more? That year, Dele was crowned the PFA Young Player of the Year as well as included in the PFA Team of the Year.

The 27-year-old went on to form an important part of Pochettino's squad as he shone alongside the likes of Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen.

At the time, The Mirror reports, Alli appeared to have the footballing world at his feet, with many likening him to Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard.

Alli's career handing in a thread

However, nearly seven years after that memorable debut, Alli's football career is hanging by a thread.

So, where did it all go wrong for Dele Alli?

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For context, Alli's decline did not happen instantly. It has been gradual, right from the day Pochettino was sacked as Tottenham boss.

According to The Mirror, upon the arrival of Jose Mourinho, things appeared to change for the worst for the midfielder.

Alli and Mourinho are said to have endured a strained relationship, with the duo not seeing eye to eye.

So much so that Mourinho once claimed that Alli was lazy.

Alli's brief resurgence

The arrival of Nuno Espirito in the summer of 2021 saw Alli breathe a sigh of relief.

The Englishman enjoyed a sudden resurgence under the ex-Wolves boss, sparking hope the midfielder had once again rediscovered his mojo.

But that was as far as it went.

The resurgence was halted after Tottenham decided to sack Nuno Espirito, with Antonio Conte replacing the Portuguese.

The arrival of Conte all but extinguished Alli's hopes of resuscitating his Tottenham career, with the north London club offloading him out as he was deemed surplus to requirements.

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Alli joins Everton

The ex-MK Dons ace eventually joined struggling Everton in the summer, where he had a brief union with Frank Lampard.

Unfortunately, Alli was unable to make an impact at Goodison Park and was subsequently shipped out on loan to Besiktas.

But as fate would have it, the 27-year-old could not raise his stake at the club.

He has since been sent back to Everton, with Talksport reporting he has already jetted back to Goodison Park.

It now remains to be seen what the future holds for one of the hottest prospects to recently emerge from England.

Alli banished from Besiktas squad

Sports Brief previously reported on Alli being banished from Bestikas' matchday squad and playing no further part for the Turkish club this season.

The midfielder joined the Super Lig outfit on a season-long loan from Everton, where his decline in form even prompted the club to try and cancel the deal.

Alli, who also played for MK Dons, has scored just twice in 13 games for Besiktas and has only featured in four games since Gunes took over as manager.