Antonio Conte sends Dele Alli warning to Everton after January transfer
Antonio Conte has sent Everton a warning after they signed Dele Alli in January, claiming that usually players’ levels ‘went down, not up’ after leaving him.
Dele signed a permanent deal with the Toffees on deadline day but so far has yet to make a start for his new club, with just four substitute appearances to his name.
Now Conte, who allowed him to leave during the January window, has sent the Blues a warning about the future of their new ace by claiming, as quoted by the Daily Mail, that players seeking revenge against him rarely find success.
“I can tell you that in the period we worked together I tried to get the best out of him,” he said.
“He was always available in training but in the end, it was a good decision for him and he deserves big respect for what he did for this club. He’s young and has all the time to take his career in his own hands.
“Honestly, I don’t remember a player that had revenge with me. When some players went away, usually they went down, not up — usually.”
Worrying trend
If Conte is right about the trajectory of a player’s career once they leave him and go elsewhere, then Everton have a problem.
Dele has yet to make an impact at Goodison Park since his move, but he was brought in to help the battle against relegation that is currently threatening Frank Lampard’s side.
Although no transfer fee has actually been paid yet, it would be worrying for the Blues if Conte’s beliefs come true simply because we all know how talented a player is.
An England regular in his early 20s, his career has gone off the rails over the last two years and he was hopeful that a change of environment would help to reignite his chances of international football in the future.
But as it’s gone so far, there’s more chance of a return to the Football League than the World Cup by the end of the year.
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