AC Milan defender Kyle Walker discovered himself in an uncommon place final month, stepping in to defend former team-mate Dele Alli when he made his long-awaited return to skilled soccer for Como.
The previous Tottenham and England team-mates have been briefly reunited on the sphere, with Dele approaching instead within the 81st minute. It marked his first aggressive look in over two years, having final performed in February 2023 whereas on mortgage at Besiktas from Everton.
Nonetheless, his comeback was abruptly reduce quick when he obtained a purple card throughout stoppage time for a deal with on Milan’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Initially proven a yellow, the reserving was upgraded to purple following a VAR evaluation. However Walker, 34, was fast to step in, interesting to the referee on Dele’s behalf.
“I feel my coronary heart kicked in. Anybody else, I’d have simply allow them to get despatched off,” Walker admitted. @However with Dele, I understand how exhausting he’s labored to get his likelihood at Como. It’s membership for him to attempt to revive his profession.
“We wished 10 males, however for the non-public relationship that I’ve with Dele, for the years I’ve recognized Dele, for what he’s been by means of – which he’s publicly stated and I feel he’s been very robust and open about that – to then get despatched off for not likely a cynical problem, he was just a little bit exhausting performed by.”
Dele Alli was despatched off after receiving a purple card simply 9 minutes into his first skilled look in two years.
Even Kyle Walker was pleading with the ref to maintain the preliminary yellow and to not change it to a purple 💔 pic.twitter.com/B6hWGYeHks
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 15, 2025
Dele has overtly shared his struggles lately, together with previous sexual abuse, dependancy to sleeping capsules, and psychological well being challenges.
Throughout the identical interview, Walker mentioned his worldwide journey as he edges nearer to a historic 100 caps for England, having just lately featured in World Cup qualifiers in opposition to Latvia and Albania.
“The 100 is getting nearer, which is an enormous goal,” Walker added. “I look again at after I first began with [Fabio] Capello. To suppose that each one them years in the past, I stated in my head that I wished to get to 25 caps. You then surpass 25 caps and also you’re on the lookout for the 50.”
If he reaches the century mark, Walker would be part of a uncommon membership. Thus far, Ashley Cole stays the one Black male footballer to have reached 100 caps for the England senior staff, with 107 appearances.
