Dele Alli was once dubbed as one of England’s most exciting young talents during his time at Tottenham.
However, he has not been able to reach the full potential that many expected of him, something that Jose Mourinho warned him about three years ago.
Alli is currently on loan at Turkish side Besiktas from Everton, but has travelled back to England due to a hip injury, which could rule him out for the rest of the season.
He has scored just three goals in 17 appearances in all competitions for both clubs this season, and Mourinho previously hinted that he could regret his future.
Speaking to Alli in Tottenham’s All or Nothing docuseries on Amazon Prime during the 2019/20 season, he said: “So what I want to tell you basically is this. I think you feel that I like you.
“You feel I like you as a player and I like you also as a kid, I think you are a nice kid. I don’t want to be your father because you have a father.
“I don’t want to be your uncle or your old brother. I just want to be your coach, but with a good connection. So, I have to tell you always what I think.
“Inside of you, maybe you tell me to f*** off, but I have to tell you exactly what I’ve seen. And for me, since the beginning, I had no doubts about your potential.
“I saw you do incredible matches and incredible things. But I always felt that you had ups and downs.
“There is a huge difference between a player that keeps consistency and the player that has moments. And that is what makes the difference between a top, top player and a player with top potential.
“It’s something that you don’t have to share with me, I think it’s just for you to analyse yourself and to realise why my career is being… MK Dons, top, national team, bang! And then you reach the top and then [up and down gestures].
“Why you have in your career these little ups and downs, I don’t know.
“I don’t know if it has to do with your lifestyle, if in one period you are an amazing professional, if in another period you become a party boy going out, I don’t know. I have no idea, only you can know that.
“I am 56 now, and yesterday, yesterday I was 20. Know what I mean? And today I’m 56, time flies.
“Time flies and I think one day, I think you will regret if you don’t reach what you can reach.
“I’m not expecting you to be the man of the match every game, I’m not expecting you to score goals every game. I want just to tell you that I think you will regret.
“You should demand more from you, not me demanding more from you. Not me, nobody, you. I think you should demand more from you.”
Alli spent 17 months with Mourinho at Spurs, before leaving the north London giants for Everton in 2022.
He has only made 13 appearances for the Toffees though, and is yet to chip in with a goal or an assist for the Merseyside outfit.
The 27-year-old was sent on loan to Besiktas last summer, but has failed to make an impact in Turkey.
It has also been reported that boss Senol Gunes has told him to watch the rest of the season from the stands after previously saying that he doesn’t ‘deserve to play’.