Mauricio Pochettino compares Dele Alli to Ronaldinho, Diego Maradona
As reported by the Daily Mail, ex-Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has compared former ward Dele Alli to footballing icons Diego Maradona and Ronaldinho.
Alli joined Tottenham in 2015 from lower league side MK Dons. It was under Pochettino’s careful watch that the Englishman developed into one of the best attacking midfielders in the Premier League.
However, over the past year or so, Alli’s form has been on the wane. Having shown signs of resurgence early in Jose Mourinho’s tenure, the England international has faltered since and finds himself out of favour at the club.
Indeed, Alli has played just 66 minutes of Premier League football in the 2020/21 campaign. He has failed to make the most of his chances in the UEFA Europa League as well.
Pochettino, however, continues to rate the midfielder very highly. The Argentine manager has claimed that Alli has an energy similar to legends of the game, Maradona and Ronaldinho. (h/t Daily Mail)
“Dele has this charisma that the kids love and follow. Different talents, different characteristics but Ronaldinho and Maradona have this special energy that you know is a special energy.”
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Poch is obviously well-placed to make such a comparison. He spent a few years with Ronaldinho at PSG while sharing the dressing room with Maradona for the Argentine national team.
Alli, for all his positive attributes, has failed to fire for quite some time now. With his place in the England squad for the Euros next summer on the line, it will be interesting to see if he tries to force a move away in January.
