Han är färdig, talenten kan tas ifrån Gud om du bara är lite lat.

Han är färdig, talenten kan tas ifrån Gud om du bara är lite lat.

Last summer, Dele Ali, who joined Besiktas on loan, often spoke of "challenging himself" as his title of former British Empire star grew increasingly distant. For the Turkish giants, it was a small investment for a big return, as the Englishman was in his prime and the buyout fee was only 7 million euros. Unfortunately, Ali was unable to heal his old injuries, and Besiktas failed to upgrade. After only seven months of cooperation, the Turkish powerhouse decided to let Ali go. It was not surprising that they returned him, but it was surprising that the Englishman would spend the rest of the season in the stands.

微信图片_20230321154535.jpg

Dele Ali create any surprises for Besiktas? His beautiful debut dribble seemed to be one of the few highlights, as he scored only two goals in 13 matches, showing no exceptional skills. When his performance didn't live up to expectations, it was natural for the coach to keep him on the bench. However, Turkish coach Gunes not only failed to wake Ali up in time but also pushed him to the brink. In a recent interview, Gunes said about the departing player, "Ali had a good career, but he is not qualified to play now."

微信图片_20230321154542.jpg

Dele Ali, who was used to a carefree lifestyle in England, get into trouble abroad? Although there were no gossip stories about his nightlife, Gunes' judgment that Ali was not qualified to play came from his attitude during training and matches. There were two typical examples: In the first match under the new coach, Ali was taken off at halftime for neglecting his defense. In a Turkish Cup match, he was replaced in the 25th minute for having no presence on the field. Ironically, from the bench, Ali witnessed Besiktas scoring four goals after being two goals down. The familiar phrase, "You've had your chance, and you're not up to it," applies as Ali transformed from a fringe player to an outsider due to his own actions.

微信图片_20230321154601.jpg

Sinking in the Turkish league during his prime, even the optimistic Ali could hardly believe he still had the capital to turn the tables. Interestingly, at his Besiktas press conference, the Englishman had made a bold statement as a passionate youngster: "I've worn many numbers in my career. I've worn 10 and 20, and now it's 11. Let's see what story number 11 will bring." In reality? Ali's transition from the Premier League to the Turkish Super League didn't save him, and he continued to count the cost of his losses. At least every time the title "British Empire Star" is mentioned, it is a ruthless reminder of what Ali has become. And Everton, who owns his rights, will likely want to get rid of him.

微信图片_20230321154612.jpg

Everton's relegation-threatened coach, Sean Dyche, has no interest in answering questions about the failed Turkish experiment. However, Ali's 13-match, zero-goal, zero-assist record under former coach Lampard provided a benchmark for the new coach, and it was clear that Ali did not live up to his 40-million-euro transfer fee. Otherwise, Everton would not have "exiled" Ali to Turkey. Sadly, he just repeated his sorrow in a foreign land, casting doubt on whether he would get along with the new coach Dyche.

微信图片_20230321154621.jpg

It's worth mentioning that Dyche is known for his strictness. Not long after taking over Everton, he announced a ban on players wearing hats and scarves during training. In stark contrast is Alli's casualness. It's still fresh in people's minds how he created negative headlines even before donning the Everton jersey – Alli appeared at Goodison Park for the first time in casual attire, prompting a Tottenham legend to say, "He looked like he was shopping." It's no wonder that he didn't manage to become the "perfect partner for Lampard" as he once promised.

From Tottenham to Everton, from the Premier League to the Turkish Super League, Alli's decline is evident. Likely to be released by Everton after being discarded by Besiktas, finding a job won't be difficult for the soon-to-be 27-year-old, but very few teams in the top five European leagues would take him, as the cost of trial and error is too high. Furthermore, Alli, who has been repeatedly scrutinized by time, can no longer catch up to his former self, once valued at over a hundred million and full of potential. It wouldn't be surprising if he suddenly became a wandering footballer, like Bojan and Macheda, who also rose to fame at a young age. Talent can be taken away by God if you're just a little bit lazy.

Alli has been advised and educated before. Prior to his move to Turkey, Lampard reminded him of the importance of staying focused. Unfortunately, the Englishman was often distracted on the field. Mourinho, who worked with him at Tottenham, once said solemnly, "Cherish your short football career, for one day you'll regret not reaching the heights you should have." Sadly, he continued to be infatuated with games and indulging in women, and after a 17-month Premier League goal drought, Alli was ultimately let go by Levy, losing his last safety net. To be fair, Alli did reflect on himself during his time at Besiktas, at least admitting that Mourinho had indeed inspired him, but he failed to demonstrate his personal value and became an irremediable burden to the club.

微信图片_20230321154636.jpg

Can a person not step into the same river twice? As a "been there, done that" figure, Alli has proven the consequences of reaping what you sow, and also that time is the best yardstick. On the verge of turning 30, Kane continues to break records in pursuit of championships, becoming Tottenham's all-time top scorer. In the last round, he equaled the Premier League single-season header goal record with nine goals, while his former teammate Alli can only reminisce from the stands.

Can a person not step into the same river twice? As a "been there, done that" figure, Alli has proven the consequences of reaping what you sow, and also that time is the best yardstick. On the verge of turning 30, Kane continues to break records in pursuit of championships, becoming Tottenham's all-time top scorer. In the last round, he equaled the Premier League single-season header goal record with nine goals, while his former teammate Alli can only reminisce from the stands.

He once surpassed Lampard to become the youngest Englishman to score 50+ goals in the Premier League, and he was once chosen as Tottenham's second top scorer in a season, lightening the load on Kane. Gilding from the European Championship and World Cup made Alli a darling, but sadly, it only took him a short seven years from making his professional debut in 2015 to being sidelined in 2023 to complete a trajectory of starting high and ending low. "Tomorrow" has suddenly become a heavy word, not because Alli is poor at aerial play or uncomfortable with back-to-goal situations. Compared to his on-field skill set, what the Englishman lacks are ambition and a sense of shame.


微信图片_20230321154728.jpg