He was once the coming thing in English football.
Dele Alli’s struggles at Beşiktaş have continued after he was substituted just 28 minutes into a cup game against a third division game.
Beşiktaş boss Senol Gunes made the decision with his side trailing Sanliurfaspor in the Turkish Cup after conceding two goals in the first 15 minutes.
Incensed by what he had witnessed, Gunes made a bold decision and opted to replace Alli, who was met with a chorus of boos from the home supporters.
🇹🇷 I hope things can change for Dele Alli in Turkey.
Last night, with his side losing 2-0 in the cup at home to a team from the third division, he was hooked off on 30 mins to a less than favourable reception.
Besiktas turned it around and won 4-2. pic.twitter.com/EHmMO87qQR
— English Players Abroad (@EnglishAbroad1) December 22, 2022
Alli’s withdrawal coincided with Beşiktaş recovering from their slow start as they scored four goals without reply to avoid a cup scare.
Former Everton striker Cenk Tosun scored a brace while ex-Tottenham winger Georges-Kevin N’Koudou and the Netherlands’ impact sub Wout Weghorst also getting on the scoresheet.
Gedson Fernandes replaced the 26-year-old and made an immediate impact and added a different dimension in the midfield and provided the assist for Tosun’s second goal.
Just one week earlier the club’s sporting director, Ceyhun Kazanc, told TRT Sport that Alli’s lapse in form was an utter mystery.
“No one can answer whether Dele Alli can do it right now,” he said.
“He is working very hard. He is a player who reached 100 million euros three years ago. He had a fall. Dele Alli is working intensively. We had intense talks with him before we signed him.
“Senol is famous for returning many players whose careers have been on the decline. We hope that he will be better in the second half of the season.”
The 26-year-old has made nine appearances in all competitions for the Turkish giants so far, scoring twice since arriving on loan from Everton.
