Dele Alli must focus on football and not the scramble to be his agent, says Mauricio Pochettino

Dele Alli
Dele Alli is in the process of splitting with his long-term agent Credit: getty images

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has insisted Dele Alli must keep his focus on his football as six of the sport’s biggest agencies fight to sign him up.

Alli is splitting with Rob Segal, the agent who took him to Tottenham from MK Dons, which has prompted a huge scramble for the England international.

Despite the fact his contract with Segal runs beyond this season, Jorge Mendes and Mino Raiola have joined Stellar Group, Key Sports Management, Wasserman and Base Soccer in expressing an interesting in taking Alli on as a client.

Harry Hickford, who Alli regards as a brother, is helping in the selection process and could yet manage the 21-year-old’s affairs himself.

Alli’s decision to change agents has sparked fears that Tottenham could struggle to hold on to him past this season, while there are concerns that he may not receive the right personal care with a representative who has a long list of world stars to look after.

Having served one of his three-game Champions League ban in midweek, Alli is available for Saturday’s Premier League clash against Swansea City and Pochettino said: “His big issue must be to focus on trying to improve and develop his game, to stop and try to be better every day. That is my focus, too, my biggest issue.”

Mauricio Pochettino and Dele Alli
Mauricio Pochettino and Alli have a close relationship Credit: rex

Facing a potential England ban for his one-fingered salute in the victory over Slovakia and suspended for two more Champions League games because of last season’s Europa League red card, it is already clear that Alli requires sound advice.

Pochettino has been a big and supportive influence on Alli, and the pair share a particularly close manager-player relationship. But the Argentine will only involve himself in the agent selection process if asked.

“It’s not my business,” said Pochettino. “If he would ask me, sure I would advise him. But it’s not my business. At the moment he didn’t ask me about that.”

Pochettino, who had an agent as a player but not as a manager, added: “It’s important to find a trusted person that can help you to be better every day and help in all the business.

“In the past, it was completely different. Today the players are products with a lot of things happening around them. They need people that look after them because the business is so big today around the players.”

Dele Alli 
Alli was seen to raise a middle finger during England's World Cup qualifier against Slovakia Credit: rex

Frank de Boer became the first Premier League manager to be sacked this week after just four games in charge of Crystal Palace and Pochettino has revealed that he was worried his job was in danger just 10 League games into his Spurs reign.

Harry Kane scored his first Premier League goal under Pochettino to clinch a late victory against Aston Villa in 2014, something his manager will be eternally grateful for.

“For me, that goal was an amazing goal because it meant for us, for everyone, the possibility to stay here today,” said Pochettino. “It’s true, we were a little bit under pressure because the team were playing well, but not winning games. Always in football, when you don’t get good results, the first to be sacked is the manager.

“That goal allowed us to carry on working and try to change the club. We were in the first season at Tottenham and people on day one when I signed the contract said ‘ok maybe in a few months we have a new face in front of us’.”

License this content