The footballing journey of Dele Alli has taken another sad twist, with the former England international reportedly contemplating retirement after being left out of Como’s pre-season plans ahead of the new Serie A campaign.
Dele, 29, joined the ambitious Italian side in January on an 18-month deal with the option of a further year, but his future in the game is now in serious doubt after a dramatic decline in fortunes.
Once regarded as one of Europe’s brightest midfielders, the former Tottenham star has struggled to rediscover his form and fitness in recent years.
His most recent setback came in March when he was sent off just nine minutes into his long-awaited Serie A debut for Como in a clash against AC Milan at San Siro — his first competitive appearance in more than two years.
The red card, shown following a VAR review after a foul on Ruben Loftus-Cheek, drew a furious reaction from Como boss Cesc Fabregas and marked a turning point in Dele’s brief Italian adventure.
He has since fallen out of favour and, despite returning to training after injury, has not been included in Fabregas’ first-team plans for the 2025–26 season.
Dele Alli, 29, is reportedly considering quitting football after falling out of favour at Como 1907
The attacking midfielder once scored 22 goals in a season for former club Tottenham Hotspur
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the midfielder is now seriously considering retirement, less than four years after he left Tottenham in January 2022.
The Italian outlet claims Dele has been training separately from the senior squad alongside other out-of-favour players and is weighing up whether it is time to walk away from the game for good.
It marks a sobering chapter in a career once full of promise.
Dele burst onto the scene at Spurs under Mauricio Pochettino and enjoyed a remarkable 2016–17 season, scoring 22 goals in all competitions and establishing himself as one of the most exciting young midfielders in Europe.
He later played a key role in Tottenham’s run to the Champions League final in 2019 and earned 37 caps for England, including appearances at the 2018 World Cup.
But a string of injuries, loss of form and off-field struggles derailed his rise.
His spell at Everton yielded little, and a loan move to Turkish side Besiktas in 2022 also ended without success after a serious groin injury sidelined him for almost a year.
Dele spoke candidly last year about his traumatic childhood, revealing in an emotional interview that he had been molested at the age of six, started smoking and dealing drugs by eight, and had attempted to take his own life during his darkest moments.
Dele’s debut for Como in March ended prematurely when he was sent off against AC Milan
That red card is said to have left Como manager Cesc Fabregas very displeased with Dele
His move to Como was seen as a fresh start — a chance to relaunch his career in a more serene setting under the guidance of Fabregas.
Early signs were promising as he impressed in training camps and looked sharp following the winter break.
But the sending-off against Milan proved costly, and his time in Italy has since unravelled.
Dele still has a year left on his contract with Como, but it remains to be seen whether he will play again.
As things stand, one of English football’s great early hopes faces the very real prospect of hanging up his boots before his 30th birthday.
