Cesc Fabregas will hope to see Dele Alli back to his best at Como (Image: Getty Images)
Cesc Fabregas and Graham Roberts might have locked horns in a prior online spat, but they find common ground when it comes to Dele Alli’s potential. Despite their previous tit-for-tat, in which the Como head coach pointed out ‘s trophy drought, they both have high hopes for Alli.
The 28-year-old recently penned an 18-month deal with club Como, following his free agent status after his Everton contract concluded last summer. The ex- midfielder had been keeping fit at Finch Farm before receiving an invite from Como – where Fabregas is the head coach – to join first-team training back in December.
Alli’s efforts evidently impressed Fabregas, an icon at and Barcelona, as he was offered a contract until the end of the 2025/26 season. This is a significant milestone for Como, who are currently in the midst of their first campaign in Italy’s top division in over two decades, now positioned at 13th in the league standings.
stalwart Roberts, who donned the Spurs shirt for six years between 1980 and 1986, is also rooting for Alli. The 65-year-old has openly supported the former England star previously, even slamming Jose Mourinho’s handling of Dele as “pathetic”.
In spite of their historical disagreements, notably stemming from Roberts’s comments on Fabregas’s tenure at Monaco, the two express solidarity in their desire to see the former England international reclaim the spark that made him a standout during his spell in north London, reports .
After his move to Monaco in January 2019, Fabregas posed a question on Twitter, asking fans: “As a fan, would you rather get to the Champions League final and be a runner up or win the Europa League? Just curious.”
Graham Roberts spent six years at Tottenham Hotspur (Image: Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I)
The tweet garnered thousands of replies, but it was Roberts’ jibe that caught attention as he quipped: “Not getting much game time now then Cesc?” alluding to Fabregas’s limited appearances for Monaco. Unfazed, the ex- skipper hit back with a dig at ‘s trophy cabinet: “I don’t know who you are, and I don’t know if I’m getting enough game time or not, but I do know you won’t win anything again this season,” he retorted.
Despite their previous online battle, both found common ground in their support for Dele. Roberts vocally backed the midfielder when Mourinho sidelined him at Spurs during the 2020/21 campaign. After Mourinho was dismissed a year later, the Spurs stalwart expressed his admiration for Dele: “I’ve always liked Dele Alli, I think he’s a great player.
“You know last year the way Mourinho treated him was absolutely pathetic. You don’t treat football players in that way to get the best out of them, and I think the rest of the players turned against Mourinho because of that.”
Roberts didn’t hide his frustration when Mourinho repeatedly left Dele on the bench, especially during a match where Spurs were desperate for a goal, resulting in a 1-1 stalemate with Fulham. In pursuit of a winning goal, the decision was made to bring on Erik Lamela and Carlos Vinicius, leaving Dele as an unused substitute. This prompted Roberts to take to X and comment: “Sorry not to use Dele crazy tonight when needed a goal.”
Fabregas, meanwhile, is confident he can help Alli get back to his best, saying: “The club believes in Dele’s potential and is committed to helping him rediscover his best form. His experience and leadership qualities will undoubtedly benefit the squad.”