Real Madrid refused to sign Tottenham Hotspur star Dele Alli as part of the Gareth Bale deal
According to Spanish publication AS (h/t The Daily Mail), Zinedine Zidane refused to take Dele Alli as a part of the loan deal that is set to bring Gareth Bale to Tottenham Hotspur.
The 31-year-old left for Real in 2013 for a then world-record fee. He had by then established himself as one of the most dynamic young wingers in world football.
One of the major concerns regarding Bale’s capture was his massive £500,000-a-week wages. Spurs were keen to offer Alli as a makeweight to supplement the fee but to no avail.
Zinedine Zidane refused to sign Tottenham Hotspur star Dele Alli
Zidane’s decision to pass on the Englishman appears to be a grudge that he has held on to for three years. According to the report, he was left furious by the player’s comments in the aftermath of our 3-1 win over them in the Champions League.
Defeating the then European champions was a big deal for Spurs as they looked to make a name for themselves on the continent. Alli scored a brace on the night.
Speaking after the game, he admitted that he should have had a hattrick in the game. In fact, his comments were centred on an excellent chance presented to him by Kieran Trippier.
“I’m disappointed I didn’t get the hat-trick to be honest. I had an easy chance at the end from a great ball in by Kieran.”
Gareth Bale rose to stardom at Tottenham
A sore loser?
According to the report, Zidane was left unimpressed by Alli’s performance. The Real manager also used injuries as an excuse for the loss on the night.
This is however not the only reason for Real’s decision. The Spanish giants were also put off by Alli’s £100,000-a-week wages. They are keen to free up any unnecessary wages in order to free up space for Kylian Mbappe.
Alli now looks set to spend the season at Tottenham. An excellent player when in form, he has been plagued by inconsistency in the last two years.
Zidane’s approach appears to lack sportsmanship
Hopefully, this will be the campaign where he can turn his fortunes around. Still just 24, his best years are ahead of him.
Zidane’s comments come across as petty and in bad spirits. We do not see any harm in what Alli said. His focus was on his performance than aim any barb at the opposition.
Regardless of Real’s injuries or Alli’s luck, the fact remains that we were the winners on the night. Hopefully, the next time we meet, our 24-year-old can show the French legend exactly what he can do.
