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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Ex-England star graced the Champions League</li><li>Also starred for Tottenham in the Premier League</li><li>In the process of rebuilding his career in Italy</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

'He'd always find that pass perfectly' - Dele Alli names Lionel Messi & Kevin De Bruyne as 'toughest opponents' faced in career with Como midfielder revealing 'a lot of respect' for duo

<p>During his days at Tottenham, Dele found himself rubbing shoulders with some of the best players on the planet. He became a Premier League star in his own right, while also helping Spurs to battle past Europe’s elite en route to the Champions League final.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>During the group stage of the 2018-19 Champions League, Dele faced Argentine icon Messi at Camp Nou - with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner stepping off the bench for Barcelona in a game that finished 1-1.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Dele, who is now <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/video-dele-alli-how-hard-work-como-contract-serie-a-outfit-tottenham-goals-highlight-what-free-agent-can-become/bltd159a6a3cc02cd67" target="_blank">rebuilding his career in Italy after overcoming serious injury issues</a>, has told Como’s <a href="https://tv.comofootball.com/player.html?id=3eebde5a-4314-4d4b-99d3-a3594974a91b&amp;currentPlayType=vod" target="_blank"><em>official website</em></a> when asked to pick out his toughest rivals on the field: "I have to say Messi. Obviously we weren’t directly against each other, but for me Messi was one of the toughest."</p>

WHAT DELE ALLI SAID

<p>Dele added on a player that he came up against on a regular basis when <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/kevin-de-bruyne-official-midfielder-confirms-leave-man-city-emotional-message-fans/blt539077ebbba59885" target="_blank">facing Manchester City in England’s top tier</a>: "Also, Kevin De Bruyne is one that I always put up there because we play similar positions.</p><p>"I’d be behind him and see things and think: ‘Please don’t see that pass’. But he always seemed to see it and find the pass perfectly. For me, that was something I noticed and something I gave a lot of respect to."</p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>Dele is hoping to enhance his own reputation, with time still on his side after turning 29. He <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/kyle-walker-explains-why-dele-alli-defence-nightmare-como-debut-ex-tottenham-star-ac-milan/bltfc685bef87ddd611" target="_blank">endured a tough start to life at Como, after being sent off on debut</a>, but is determined to prove his worth while working under ex-Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

'He'd always find that pass perfectly' - Dele Alli names Lionel Messi & Kevin De Bruyne as 'toughest opponents' faced in career with Como midfielder revealing 'a lot of respect' for duo | Goal.com

Dele Alli has named Lionel Messi and Kevin De Bruyne as his toughest opponents, with the ex-England midfielder having &quot;a lot of respect&quot; for the pair.

&apos;He&apos;d always find that pass perfectly&apos; - Dele Alli names Lionel Messi &amp; Kevin De Bruyne as &apos;toughest opponents&apos; faced in career with Como midfielder revealing &apos;a lot of respect&apos; for duo