Former Tottenham and England midfielder Dele Alli has recounted an unusual anecdote from his childhood, revealing that he was given a lifetime ban from Tesco supermarkets due to repeated incidents of shoplifting.
In an interview, Alli recalled an instance when he was en route to training with his teammates, who asked him to pop into a store for drinks while he remained in the car.
He explained:
They usually grabbed Powerade and other drinks before training. I was sitting quietly in the back, trying to behave like a good lad. Then they gave me money and asked me to go get some Lucozade.
I just kept sitting there. After about 30 seconds, they turned around and asked again, 'Can you go and get the Lucozade?' I replied, 'I can't.'
When pressed for the reason, Alli divulged:
They asked, 'Why not?' I said, 'I’ve been banned for life from going in there.' Because I kept stealing stuff from there. Just everything.
Alli has previously opened up about a challenging upbringing, highlighting experiences of sexual abuse and involvement in drug trafficking, and he ended up in foster care at the age of 12.
Now 30, the midfielder finds himself without a club after leaving Como in September 2025. He hasn't featured in a competitive match since March 2025, when he made his debut for Como against AC Milan, only to be sent off shortly after coming on as a substitute. That game remains his only appearance for the Italian side.
Recently, Barnet has offered Alli a potential avenue to extend his career, with manager Dean Brennan confirming that the door is open for him to train with the team.
