‘No one can answer whether he can do it’ – Besiktas chief baffled by Dele Alli’s poor form and hopes he gets ‘better’
DELE ALLI’S time in Turkey is showing no signs of improving as he is performing ‘below expectations’ at Besiktas.
The former Tottenham midfielder is on loan at the Super Lig side from Everton but he has failed to refind his best form.
The 26-year-old has managed to score twice in his eight games but there is little enthusiasm surrounding his performances.
Besiktas sporting director Ceyhun Kazanci told TRT Spor: “No one can answer whether Dele Alli can do it right now.
“He is working very hard. He is a player who reached €100million (£87m) three years ago. He had a fall.
“Dele Alli is working intensively. We had intense talks with him before we signed him.
“Senol [Gunes] 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.”
Club manager Senol Gunes has also admitted that Alli has been “disappointing” and that he is struggling with him, as he said earlier in the season: “I couldn’t affect the players.
“Now I can easily touch them but we haven’t touched Dele Alli yet.
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“Let’s not discuss Dele Alli as a player but he is below expectations in terms of efficiency.”
Not so long ago it appeared Alli had hit rock bottom after he saw his spot-kick against Belgian side Charleroi saved in a friendly match.
While it was a decently struck penalty, keeper Herve Koffi was still able to make the stop.
Former Everton defender Alan Stubbs doesn’t see a way back for Alli at Goodison Park.
He recently told Football Betting: “Dele doesn’t have a future at Everton.
“It’s a strange situation because I don’t think I can ever remember a player falling off a cliff as quickly as Alli has.
“I don’t know what’s gone on in his private life but to go from being an England international to not being anywhere near that level is really bizarre.”