Fans were broken down after seeing what Dele Alli posted on his Instagram.
Former Tottenham and Everton midfielder Dele Alli shared a defiant message in a recent social media post after suffering another setback in his recovery from injury.
The 28-year-old last played competitively in February 2023 during a loan spell with the Turkish club Besiktas. He has been training with the Toffees since his contract at Goodison Park expired last summer.
Last week, following news that Alli had picked up a muscle injury that impacted his ability to train, Everton boss Sean Dyche said Alli was ‘peed off’ with the recurring issues.
The midfielder took to Instagram to share an update on his condition, writing ‘create it’ in a post that included a number of images from workout sessions.
Alli also shared an anime image with a motivational quote which read: ‘The life you want isn’t out there. It’s within you, watching for you to create it.
The former Spurs star had been hopeful of securing a contract with Dyche ‘s side, who allowed the England international to keep training with them, but, according to the Toffees’ former scout Bryan King, their patience has a limit.
The fitness concern looks set to take Dele’s spell away from the game beyond two years as the free agent struggles to get back on the pitch.
King recently revealed that the midfielder might have to wait until next summer to agree a deal with any time, as he aims to return to full strength in the youth teams.
He told Goodison News :’The road is only getting longer for Alli. Decisions will be made when he can start playing again.
‘He will need to be playing with the Under-21s for at least six months before the club can decide whether it is worth offering him a new contract.
‘He has got a lot to prove if he wants to earn another contract. It is a shame because he was a very good footballer, and I’d imagine he still is if he can get back to full fitness.’
The midfielder said earlier this year that he had been targeting a spot at the 2026 World Cup with England as he looks at an eventual return to international football.
Alli previously starred as an England regular and played at Euro 2016 and the World Cup in Russia two years later, but hasn’t featured since making his 37th international appearance five years ago.
‘You know you can set reminders on your phone, I have a reminder at 11 o’clock every day that says, “World Cup 2026”,’ he said on Sky Sports in April. ‘That’s my aim for now. I think that people will be like, “he hasn’t played in a year” but I don’t care, I know my level.
‘The only target I have is the World Cup right now. Obviously I’m injured and contracted to Everton and so my mind is just about taking it day by day and making sure my injury is healed and that I’m in the best possible condition after the summer.
‘It’s annoying because I’ll be just fully training as the season ends so it means that I won’t have to rush it.’
Everton were, meanwhile, open to offering Alli a new contract in August. Dyche said things were ‘ticking along nicely’, but talks never progressed.
Alli has made a total of 13 appearances for Everton, failing to score a goal.
