Dele Alli made a long-awaited return to a matchday squad for the first time in two years as Como suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to Roma in Serie A on Sunday.
The 28-year-old midfielder last featured in a competitive game back in February 2023, when he played for Turkish club Besiktas in a goalless draw against Antalyaspor.
After a prolonged period without a club following his departure from Everton in June, Dele trained under then-Toffees boss Sean Dyche before securing a trial with Como.
His performances earned him an 18-month contract in January 2025 with the Italian side, currently managed by former Spain international Cesc Fabregas.
In a deeply personal interview with Gary Neville in July 2023, Dele opened up about the challenges he faced off the pitch, including being sexually abused at the age of six and dealing drugs by the time he was eight.
He also spoke about struggles with alcohol and sleeping pills during his career but reaffirmed his commitment to returning to football after seeking help for his personal battles.
On the field, Como took a surprising lead just before halftime at the Stadio Olimpico, with Lucas de Cunha finding the net in the 44th minute.
However, Roma responded in the second half, as Alexis Saelemaekers equalized in the 61st minute. The situation worsened for Como two minutes later when Marc-Oliver Kempf received his second yellow card, reducing them to 10 men.
Roma capitalized on their numerical advantage, with Artem Dovbyk netting the decisive goal in the 76th minute to secure the win.
The victory propelled Claudio Ranieri’s side to eighth place, leaving them six points behind fourth-placed Juventus.
Meanwhile, Como sit 13th in the table, maintaining a six-point cushion above the relegation zone.
