Dele Alli’s Contentious Como Debut: Red Card and WhatsApp Exchange with Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Dele Alli’s return to professional football after over two years away took a dramatic turn on his Como debut, as he received a red card for a challenge on AC Milan’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Following the match, Alli shared his WhatsApp conversation with Loftus-Cheek, offering a glimpse into their post-game reaction.
The former Tottenham Hotspur and Everton midfielder made his highly anticipated comeback for Como on Saturday night, entering the Serie B match as an 81st-minute substitute for Lucas Da Cunha. This marked Alli’s first competitive appearance since February 2023, when he played for Besiktas in a goalless draw against Antalyaspor in the Turkish league.
However, his return ended in disappointment deep into stoppage time. In the 91st minute, Alli was sent off for a foul that was deemed worthy of a red card after a challenge on the back of Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s calf.
Referee Matteo Marchetti initially brandished a yellow card to the 28-year-old Alli. But after a VAR review, the decision was overturned, and the yellow card was upgraded to a red. Reports suggest that Kyle Walker, seemingly present at the game, may have appealed to the referee regarding the severity of the foul.
The day after the match, Alli addressed the red card incident on his Instagram story. Responding to his dismissal against AC Milan (though Como played against a different team – this might be reporting error), he humorously acknowledged his eventful return. In his Instagram story he posted: “I was always going to announce my return in some way after these past two years, would rather it had been with a goal [cover face emoji] but feels good to be back [love heart emoji].”
Later on Sunday, Alli shared more content on Instagram, including game photos and a pre-match dressing room picture. Crucially, he also provided fans with a peek into his immediate reaction to the red card incident, sharing a screenshot of his WhatsApp conversation with Ruben Loftus-Cheek, the player involved in the challenge.
The WhatsApp exchange, visible in the image below, shows Alli admitting his attempt to clip Loftus-Cheek’s heel. Loftus-Cheek, the former Chelsea midfielder, responded by saying he stayed down partly because he was “blowing” – suggesting fatigue in the game’s final moments contributed to him staying on the ground.
Alli’s post-match conversation with Loftus-Cheek. Image credit: X/Dele
Fabregas Reacts to Dele Alli Red Card: “A Grave Mistake”
Como manager Cesc Fabregas didn’t hold back in his post-match assessment of Dele Alli’s red card. Speaking after the game, Fabregas expressed his disappointment and made it clear he was not going to defend Alli’s actions.
Fabregas explained the context of Alli’s substitution in the game, noting: “It was at that moment when Milan went 2-1 up and Sergi Roberto was meant to come on, but I’d prefer to give him another two weeks to train so he can be ready to start against Empoli.” He shared this in an interview with DAZN.
The Como manager continued, highlighting Alli’s potential but also his current shortcomings: “Dele Alli is a player who can score goals, he perhaps didn’t deserve this opportunity because he has only been working with us for two weeks and has a lot to improve. It is a grave mistake, one that we should not see from a player of his experience.” Fabregas’s words emphasize the setback Alli’s red card represents, particularly given his recent return and the team’s situation in the match.
Expanding on his criticism, Fabregas stated: “It was a clear red card, there’s nothing to be said about that, he left the team down to 10 men during a crucial moment when we were pushing for 2-2. That is the most negative thing about this evening, but we keep going.” Fabregas’s blunt assessment underscores the severity of the incident and its impact on Como’s game. Despite the negative debut, Fabregas’s final words offer a message of resilience and determination as the team moves forward.
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