Dele Alli’s first competitive appearance in over two years ended after 10 minutes as he was sent off during Como’s Serie A defeat to Milan on Saturday.
The 28-year-old was introduced as an 81st-minute substitute at San Siro but was sent off in the first minute of second-half stoppage time after catching the back of former Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s calf with his studs.
Dele was initially shown a yellow card by referee Matteo Marchetti for the challenge but this was upgraded to a red after the video assistant referee (VAR) recommended a pitch-side review.
A number of Dele’s Como team-mates surrounded Marchetti to protest the decision, while Kyle Walker, who joined Milan in January, also appeared to attempt to persuade the referee to not brandish a red card at his former England team-mate.
Dele joined joined Como on an 18-month contract in January, with the option of a further 12 months. He had been an unused substitute in their previous two Serie A matches before his 10-minute cameo on Saturday.
It marked his first appearance for any club since February 4, 2023, when he was a substitute for Besiktas — where he was on loan from Everton — in their 1-0 Turkish Super Lig defeat at Sivasspor. He subsequently sustained a hip injury that ended his loan spell at the Turkish club.
The two-time PFA young player of the year’s Everton contract expired in the summer of 2024, and his exit was confirmed in December.
He had not played for the Premier League side since August 2022 due to various injuries but had continued to train at the club’s Finch Farm facilities after his contract ended as part of his rehabilitation from a long-term thigh problem.
After joining Como, the Italian club said they “recognise his exceptional talent” but the focus was on “providing Dele with a supportive environment where he can gradually integrate into the squad.”
“While there will be no immediate performance expectations, the club is confident that he will make a significant contribution both on the pitch and as a mentor to the club’s young talents,” the statement continued.
Dele, capped 37 times by England, is best remembered for his six-and-a-half seasons at Tottenham Hotspur, where he scored 67 goals across 269 appearances.
Como had led Milan at half-time thanks to a Lucas Da Cunha goal, but Milan scored twice in the second half through Christian Pulisic and Tijani Reinders to secure a 2-1 victory. Head coach Cesc Fabregas was also sent off in stoppage time.
Como were promoted to Italy’s top flight last summer and Saturday’s defeat left them 13th in Serie A, seven points clear of the relegation zone.
(Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
