Sir Alex Ferguson urged Jose Mourinho to sign Everton star for Man Utd
Former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson tried to convince the club to sign Dele Alli during Jose Mourinho's time in charge, but the England international will be in the blue corner when United head to Merseyside on Sunday.
Dele joined Everton in 2022 after falling out of favour at Tottenham, but hasn't had the best of times with his current club. A few years earlier, though, he was on top form in North London to the point that Ferguson appeared desperate to send him to Old Trafford.
In order to get a deal over the line, though, the legendary manager would need to convince Jose Mourinho to follow his advice. The Portuguese coach would later manage Dele at Spurs, and it was there that he reflected on the failed transfer.
Speaking to Spurs chairman Daniel Levy during Amazon Prime's All Or Nothing documentary about the club's 2019-20 season Mourinho opened up on that advice from Ferguson. He made the comments while admitting he was struggling to get the best out of the midfielder in training, but didn't play down Dele's quality one bit.
"Sir Alex Ferguson gave me only one bit of advice in two and a half years: Buy Dele Alli. 'That guy, with that mentality, the way he plays, the aggression he has in mind. This guy is the Manchester United player. Buy Dele Alli'," Mourinho said.
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"And he [Ferguson] has an eye for a player. But he [Alli] is not a good trainer, we need to find motivation for the guy."
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Mourinho and Dele would end up working together at Spurs (Carl Recine/POOL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)Dele earned more minutes at Spurs under Mourinho's successors Ryan Mason and Nuno Espirito Santo, but his days were numbered once Antonio Conte took over. A move to Everton followed, with a low fee accompanied by potential add-ons, but he spent the 2022-23 season on loan at Besiktas and Everton boss Sean Dyche admitted the club have been looking at the possibility of renegotiating the agreement which brought him to Goodison Park.
Now 27, the former MK Dons starlet has opened up about struggles with addiction and time in rehab. A groin injury has kept him out of action so far this season, but Dyche has praised the player for his work off the field.
"I don't think he would mind me sharing that there probably was a period when it was drifting for him," Dyche said in early November. "He had a lot going on. Once that [his mental health battle] came out, it has allowed him the chance to focus on his football and he has been very involved in terms of absorbing.
"He can't get out on the grass with us yet but he is looking at it and he is absorbing what the input from myself and the staff has been. He is clear minded now. It was very difficult what he was going through, of course. We know that. But he is very willing to share, give an opinion."
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