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It was an emotional appearance. But the jubilation was shattered in 10 minutes.
Son Heung-min (32, Tottenham)'s best friend Dele Alli (28, Como) returned to the ground for the first time in more than two years. However, he cried at the misfortune of being sent off with a red card 10 minutes after being replaced.
Ali was substituted in the 36th minute of the second half in the 29th round of Italy's Serie A 2024-2025 season against AC Milan at Stadio Giuseppe Meacha in Milan, Italy, on the 16th (Korea time). The last time I took the ground was on February 4, 2023, during the Turkiye Besiktas. He nestled in Como this season at the start of the winter transfer.
Como took the lead in the 33rd minute with Luca da Cunha's first goal. However, the game in the second half was overturned. AC Milan scored back-to-back goals in the eighth minute of the second half by Christian Pulisic and Tijani Rheinders in the 30th minute of the second half.
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Ali took the field instead of da Cunha. After more than two years, I finally saw the light. But the joy was brief. In the 46th minute of extra time in the second half, he stepped on his left foot with his right foot while blocking a dribble from Chelsea's Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
The referee took out the yellow card, but corrected it with a red card after VAR (video reading) on-field review. The Como bench was furious. Cesc Fabregas, who gave Ali a de facto last chance, was sent off after protesting.
Even Kyle Walker, who was loaned to AC Milan through the winter transfer market as Ali's former Tottenham teammate, was seen pleading with the referee not to let him leave. The fans are also 'yellow. The stepping power is too weak', even Walker told him not to give him a red card. It's actually heartbreaking', 'Pity Ali. The person has been going through so many difficulties and now this has happened' he lamented.
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Ali peaked at Tottenham with Son Heung-min, Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane forming the 'DESK (desk)' line. But 'Lazy Genius' were his two faces.
Lost his place at the tot, moved to Everton in January 2022. However, Ali played only 13 games, including one start for Everton. In the 2022-2023 season, he was loaned to Besiktas. But the wandering continued. He scored three goals in 15 games.
Ali made an early return in April 2023 due to injury. He was put on the operating table with a hip injury. He was also addicted to alcohol and sleeping pills. For mental health, he entered a rehabilitation clinic and received treatment. Early last year, he had groin surgery and his return was delayed further, and that was it.
Ali's contract with Everton expired in June last year and was released as a free agent (FA). He continued his rehabilitation training at Everton and hoped for a comeback, but there was no reversal in the end.
Spanish legend Fabregas, who is from Arsenal and Chelsea, held Ali's hand. Ali received a 'OK sign' in recent training. He was included in the entry for the first time in the 27th round of Serie A against AS Roma on the 3rd, but his return failed.
He finally made his comeback against AC Milan, but it was tarnished by nightmares.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
