Former Tottenham academy chief Paul Mitchell has seen his claims regarding Dele backfire after predicting that he would work his way back to the top of the world game. After a tough two years at Everton, Dele has announced that he will be moving to a new team permanently next month.
That is expected to be to Como FC in Italy with Cesc Fabregas' side set to sign another high-profile player. For Dele, who is still only 28, it will be an opportunity to reignite his career.
Once tipped for great things after a breakout season at Spurs in 2015/16 under Mauricio Pochettino, Dele has seen his stock plummet. Mitchell, who played a key role in getting him to north London from MK Dons in 2015, had been confident of seeing him return to the levels of nearly a decade ago.
Speaking in 2022, before his season-long spell in Turkey with Besiktas, he told GetFootballNewsFrance: "Obviously, I know Dele very well. He is a phenomenally talented footballer. He seems to have just lost a bit of rhythm at this moment of time in his career. I don’t think his quality is ever in doubt.
"I think he’s looking for that place where he can rediscover his best form. It happens in people’s careers, it happens in players’ careers. If Dele thinks he needs that turn of pace, that new chapter, that new platform, even a new culture to reinvigorate his best performances, then I’m a big supporter of that. I like every England fan wants to see him at his optimum level."
The deal didn't work out, though, with Dele scoring just once in 13 matches before going back to Everton. He has been training with the club for the past six months but will be leaving for pastures new in January.
"As widely published this week, 2025 may set me on a new path with some exciting opportunities", he wrote on Instagram. Before any of that happens it’s very important for me to make clear how grateful I am of all the fans, staff and players at Everton FC for the support they have given me.
"It’s been an incredibly tough journey trying to put the final pieces together to regain match fitness and I cannot thank the Everton staff enough for the hard work they have put into this process. Unfortunately things haven’t worked out as we all would have hoped and I think it’s the right time for me to turn a new page.
"I want to wish everyone at this amazing club the very best of luck and hopefully we will see each other again soon."
At Everton things didn't work out either. Mitchell tried to explain the troubles, saying: "It doesn’t really seem like he’s found his best form at Everton. For me, as an England fan, I see the potential that he still has and the qualities he still has.
"I’ve known Dele since he was 11 years old, and he has always been that player that the bigger the challenge, the bigger the platform, the better he responds. By challenging himself on the global stage hopefully, that can bring him back to his best."
At the time, Mitchell - who is now at Newcastle, having spent time at the Red Bull Group and Monaco - expressed his desire to see the old Dele come back. "I think every player, no matter how confident they seem on the outside, still needs a level of confidence and security around them to find their best form," he said.
"I think once he has that, once he feels that, in the right context then I think we can see him back to his best. As a massive fan and someone who has watched him since schoolboy ages, and takes active participation in looking at his career, and wishing the best for him, I hope this move will bring him back to the top level."
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