Dele’s Alli’s fall from grace: A Tottenham Hotspur tragedy

Dele Alli, who not long ago was one of the world’s most highly touted midfielders, has endured a potentially career crushing fall from grace at Tottenham. 

The 24-year-old has made four Premier League appearances this season, comprising a measly 77 minutes of playing time. Completely ostracized from first team proceedings, Dele has dwindled from a Category 5 hurricane to a subtle breeze.

Jose Mourinho attributes Dele’s demise to an overt lack of desire in training, a wavering commitment that centres around an unwillingness to put in the hard yards. Jose has had Dele in his crosshairs for a while now, a damning, often-hard-to-overcome development. While quarters of the punditry world fault Jose for Dele’s deterioration, the Englishman must also take his fair share of blame.

Highly concerned with appearance and dedicated to maintaining a gaudy socialite status, Dele has taken his eye off the ball. Dele arrived on the scene as a wunderkind, mature beyond his years. Dedicated, devoted and fully committed, he was, for a few seasons, one of, if not, the world’s best young midfielder.

At just 20 years old, Dele put world football on notice. He easily outperformed England’s most lauded midfielders, including David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard. At that time, just three years ago, Dele transcended expectations and paved a path to eclipse the aforementioned quartet as England’s best ever midfielder. 

But his recent stark regression, both on and off the field, is a tragic tale rivalling Hamlet, Othello and Macbeth. Seeing Dele’s fire dwindle to a mere ember is a harsh reminder of how cruel football can be at the top level.

While this story is far from over, Dele has to change the narrative quickly to avoid becoming a forgotten soul. He would not forgive himself for resonating in the record books as a has been, a player who dropped like a stone from the most eminent heights of glory.

To change the narrative, Dele will need a fresh lease on life. For as long as Jose is at the helm, that redemption opportunity might only come with Dele leaving Tottenham Hotspur.

If Spurs fans were all altruistic, they’d let him go and wish him well as he reunites with Mauricio Pochettino in an attempt to revitalize a career in precipitous decline. They wouldn’t worry about losing, hopefully temporarily, England’s once, albeit briefly, most prolific creative midfielder.

If Jose and company don’t let Dele spread his wings and leave Tottenham, I fear the worst for the 24-year-old. With time still on his side, it’s not too late for Dele to rejuvenate his sputtering career. The question is whether Jose will grant Dele his wish by letting him go.

Experience, and the current situation at Spurs, suggests Jose will not accept Dele’s request. Which begs the question:

Can Dele overcome the odds at Tottenham and turn his story into one of redemption, or is he destined to forever ruminate on what could have been.