Dele Alli’s Como debut ended in disaster after he was sent off less than ten minutes after coming off the bench in a 2-1 loss to AC Milan.
Alli, whose last competitive appearance came nearly 750 days ago for Besiktas, was brought on in the 81st minute for Como midfielder and goalscorer Lucas Da Cunha.
DAZNAlli cut a devastated figure after being sent off against AC Milan[/caption]
But it wasn’t long before the former Tottenham man’s debut turned into a night to forget.
Alli attempted to dispossess Milan midfielder and former England teammate Ruben Loftus-Cheek but only managed to step on the back of his rival’s calf as the referee brandished a yellow card.
However, the referee was told to review the incident on the pitchside monitor and it wasn’t long before he returned to the pitch to overturn the decision.
Despite the desperate pleas of Alli’s Como teammates and Milan’s Kyle Walker, who played alongside the midfielder at Tottenham, the referee was unmoved and sent him off in the 91st minute.
Alli’s red card had no impact on the result, as Da Cunha’s opener was cancelled out by Christian Pulisic before Tijjani Reijnders netted the winner in the 75th minute.
Alli’s debut came almost two weeks after he was named on Como’s bench for the first time in what was his biggest step towards a return, although he did not enter the contest in what was a 2-1 loss to Roma.
The former Tottenham and Everton midfielder was once again an unused substitute for Como’s next Serie A clash, this time a 1-1 draw with Venezia.
Alli began training with Cesc Fabregas’ side over Christmas, although the Spanish great was reluctant to claim whether it would lead to anything.
“Let’s see. It would be to help him get in shape and nothing more,” Fabregas said at the time.
More to follow…
DAZNAlli planted his studs on the back of Loftus-Cheek’s calf[/caption]
ArenaEven Walker tried to persuade the referee not to send Alli off[/caption]
