Dele Alli admits Ronaldo inspiration as he seeks to revive Spurs career

Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli has admitted to taking inspiration from Cristiano Ronaldo in an attempt to improve.

Everyone in football ‘idolizes and respects’ Cristiano Ronaldo, says Dele Alli.

The 25-year-old has taken inspiration from Ronaldo as he attempts to revive his career at Tottenham following a difficult last few years in London.

“I think everyone in football idolizes and respects the amount of work that Ronaldo does,” he told Goal on how the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has inspired him.

Alli fell out of favor under Jose Mourinho and appeared set for an exit until the Portuguese lost his job in April. Nuno Espirito Santo has since replaced him as the new Spurs manager.

This turn of events has handed Alli a chance to revive his career. The midfielder has changed his diet and undergone a new training regime this summer. It’s clear he hopes for a fresh start and plans to do so by rediscovering the form he showed under former Spurs coach Mauricio Pochettino.

“I want to make this year one of the best I have had,” continued Alli.

“A lot of people have said I need to find the form I was in a few years ago. For me, I don’t even want to get to that, I want to go past that and reach my full potential to be the best player I can be.

“It has been a tough few years, but I have been working hard and analyzing what I need to do to get better.

“I have been training a lot on most days of my holiday. I didn’t feel I needed much rest, so it is just training the whole way through.

“Everyone is looking for that extra few per cent, so you have to keep up. I am feeling good and the best I have felt in a long time.”