Dele Alli faces the prospect of ending his professional career before turning 30 after Como excluded him from their first-team preparations for the upcoming Serie A campaign.
The 29-year-old midfielder has been relegated to solitary training sessions, separated from Cesc Fabregas’s main squad alongside other surplus players.
The former England international arrived at the Italian club in January on an 18-month contract, seeking to resurrect a career that had stalled dramatically.
However, merely months into his Italian venture, Fabregas has reportedly determined that Alli no longer features in his tactical considerations for the 2025-26 season.
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Dele Alli scored 67 goals in 269 appearances at Tottenham
Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the midfielder is now seriously weighing up retirement.
His Serie A career lasted precisely nine minutes.
Making his competitive debut as a late substitute against AC Milan at San Siro in March, Alli received a straight red card following VAR intervention for a challenge on Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
The dismissal came despite interventions from Kyle Walker, then playing for Milan, who pleaded with officials to show leniency.
GETTY | Dele Alli failed to make another appearance for Como after his debut sending off
The incident represented Alli’s first competitive appearance in over two years.
That sending-off proved pivotal in his Como downfall. Following a one-match suspension, he never featured again under Fabregas, remaining an unused substitute for the remainder of the campaign whilst battling recurring fitness issues.
Como have shifted their focus towards younger talents with more reliable fitness records, leaving Alli isolated from the main group.
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The club views investing in emerging players as less risky than persevering with the injury-prone midfielder.
Reports indicate Alli continues training individually whilst his contract runs until June 2026, though his future at the club appears untenable.
Brazilian side Gremio have allegedly been offered his services as Como seek resolution to the situation.
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The former England international is said to be considering retirement at the age of just 29
The Serie A newcomers initially viewed Alli’s signing as a potential coup under Fabregas’ guidance.
Instead, persistent physical setbacks have undermined any chance of a revival, with the player absent from competitive action since March.
The midfielder’s decline represents a stark contrast to his meteoric rise at Tottenham, where he netted 22 goals during the 2016-17 campaign and became one of Europe’s most coveted young talents.
His performances under Mauricio Pochettino earned him 37 England caps and a prominent role in the 2018 World Cup squad.
Following his 2022 departure from Spurs, unsuccessful spells at Everton and Turkish club Besiktas compounded his struggles.
A severe groin injury during his loan in Turkey sidelined him for nearly a year, further derailing his career trajectory before Como offered what appeared to be a final lifeline.