Besiktas chief has 'no answer' to Dele Alli struggles since Everton disaster

Besiktas sporting director Ceyhun Kazanci has been baffled by Dele Alli's form since joining the Turkish side on loan this summer from Everton.

It's a shame how Alli's career has fallen apart in recent seasons.

The Englishman was rightfully one of the best young players in the Premier League for a few years after joining Tottenham from MK Dons.

But Jose Mourinho couldn't get the best out of Alli as the player seemed to be losing his love for football.

A few years ago it was thought that Alli was capable of continuing to play for Barcelona and Real Madrid.

But he went the other way as last year he left Tottenham to sign for Everton on a first free transfer.

It was a performance-based deal as the Toffees could have ended up paying up to £40m for the midfielder if the transfer went through.

His decline continued in an Everton shirt as he failed to score in his 13 appearances.

Everton couldn't get rid of Alli fast enough as he joined Super Lig side Besiktas on loan in the summer.

This could have been the fresh start Alli needed as he was given the opportunity to rebuild his career away from the limelight.

Alli floundered as his time in Turkey was largely inconsequential, scoring just twice in eight appearances.

Now Kazanci has admitted that there is no answer to Alli's problems because he "works very hard".

"No one can say whether Dele Alli can do it now," Kazanci told TRT Spor.

"He works very hard. He's a player who hit €100m (£87m) three years ago. He's had a fall."

He added: "Dele Alli works intensely. We had intense discussions with him before signing him.

"Gunes [the manager of Besiktas] is famous for bringing back many players whose careers were in decline. We hope he will be better in the second half of the season."

Earlier this year, Besiktas boss Senol Gunes hinted that Alli was performing "below expectations".

"I couldn't affect the players," Gunes said earlier in the season.

"Now I can touch them easily, but we haven't touched Dele Alli yet. Not talking about Dele Alli as a player, but he is below expectations in terms of efficiency."

Unlike Alli, Tammy Abraham has thrived playing in Europe since moving from AS Roma to Chelsea last year.

He persuaded Alli to join Besiktas by suggesting that going abroad was the "best thing he's ever done".

"I feel like people shouldn't be afraid to go abroad or move," Abraham said.

"They say 'the Premier League is the best league in the world'. Of course, it has top quality.

"But don't flip different leagues. These leagues aren't easy. Coming to Serie A. I never thought it would be easy. But coming to experience life on the outside is probably the best thing I've ever done. did.

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