Nigeria international and Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi has lifted the lid on former teammate, Dele Alli’s failed career at Goodison Park.
Alli made just 13 appearances for Everton after moving from Tottenham Hotspurs, failing to score or register an assist before being shipped out on a temporary deal to Turkey last summer.
The forward, who is currently recovering from surgery on an existing operation after seeing his loan move to Besiktas end in tatters, endured a torrid time with the Toffees before joining the Turkish club last summer.
The 27-year-old returned to England amid controversy after he was spotted with friends, surrounded by laughing gas canisters, also known as ‘hippy crack’, despite not being fit to play matches.
Speaking in defence of the England player of Nigerian descent, Iwobi explained why Alli failed to perform up to expectations after he was brought to the club by Frank Lampard in 2022.
“With him (Alli), he will say it himself, he isn’t a training player. Unless it’s a match in training and then you see Dele perform,” Iwobi told FilthyFellas.
“When it comes to training matches, he is a joke. When it comes to drills – he tries, but because he’s slow with it. When it comes to games, he will score and assist or something.
“It was hard for him to play. If you’re not just doing it in training, and at the time, the manager needed reliable players.
“He (Lampard) couldn’t really put his trust in him. We all know Dele could have performed,” added Iwobi.
Everton may be forced to sell Alli in the summer following his failure to hit the ground running at Goodison Park and the Toffees are obliged to pay Spurs £10m if he makes 20 appearances.
