Dele Ali was rumored to depart Tottenham in the just concluded transfer window due to his continual non-inclusion in the squad by Jose Mourinho. The 24-year-old, who is suffering a dip in form, has failed to find the back of the net or assist his teammates since scoring a penalty in the Europa League group stage in December 2020.
Nonetheless, Paris Saint-German (PSG) were willing to have the energetic hole (box-to-box) midfielder as former Tottenham coach, Mauricio Pochettino was eager to reunite with his former player.
PSG will have to continue with their existing players, while Dele Alli remains at Tottenham, probably warming the bench for the rest of the season.
One would think that the relationship between Dele Alli and Jose Mourinho would be a cozy father-son type as their relationship blossomed in the beginning, with Mourinho even taking guidance on Dele Alli from former Manchester United coach, Alex Ferguson.
However, all that positivity soon plummeted after Dele Alli openly criticized Jose Mourinho’s coaching tactics in a Champions League game against RB Leipzig during halftime. In Dele Alli’s words:
“Come on boys, want the ball. Play. We’re just smashing it long and fu*cking defending. We’re not going to win nothing like that,"
The cameras picked it up, signaling the beginning of Dele Alli’s Troubles. No coach wants a player who not only undermines their tactics but also doesn’t believe in it.
Since then, Dele Alli has been missing from the Squad or watched quietly from the bench.
The youngster is currently suffering from a tendon injury, but according to Mourinho, it wouldn’t affect the player long-term.
We can only hope that Mourinho finds it in his heart to forgive Dele while he picks his form back.
