Eric Dier has revealed Dele Alli is “happy to have a new challenge” after his former Tottenham teammate’s shock move to Besiktas.
The 26-year-old failed to settle at Everton after leaving Spurs for Goodison Park in January and was allowed to move to the Istanbul giants on a free transfer.
Moving to the Turkish Super Lig before the age of 30, plenty had been made of the former England international’s supposed fall from grace. With a World Cup on the horizon, Dele’s influential role during the run to the semi-finals in Russia four years ago seems like a different lifetime.
Still, Dier has backed his former teammate, a player he developed a close bond with during their together in north London, to succeed in Turkish football.
Dele scored his first goal for Besiktas during a 3-2 win away at Ankaragucu and Dier believes a fresh challenge could help revitalise his career.
“I spoke to him after his first game,” revealed Dier.
“I think he is happy to have a new challenge, somewhere fresh. I think he is excited by a new experience from a life point of view as well and all I heard were positive things from him.
“He is young. 26. I think we all know in football things can change very quickly for anyone at any time so everything is possible. It is just up to us as individuals.”
