Gareth Southgate might think Dele Alli isn't world class but the curious analysis doesn't seem to have bothered the Tottenham ace

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It may have been one of those pieces of managerial reverse psychology, or a harsh truth honestly felt. Either way, it doesn’t appear to have bothered Dele Alli.

England manager Gareth Southgate was discussing who can replace the retired Wayne Rooney when he downplayed the readiness of the Tottenham midfielder. He is not world class, England’s manager said.

Not world class? Burnley are hardly Barcelona, but they are a solid Premier League side who beat Chelsea only a fortnight ago. 

Dele Alli scored Tottenham's only goal of the game in their 1-1 draw with Burnley at Wembley

Putting the disappointing draw aside, Alli was the standout player for Spurs amongst a team of internationals and his strike would’ve won them a tough three points had Burnley not scored late on.

Alli was where he always seems to be after scoring simple goals: in the right place at the right time. It is skill, rather than coincidence. 

The ball gravitated to him via a Burnley mistake as Christian Eriksen’s corner dropped into the box; Alli smashed the first effort, it was blocked, then he calmly placed the second in. A moment of clarity and composure in a six-yard box packed with players.

Alli loiters in the spaces in between two, three, four or five opponents so that he is always able to receive the ball. He did so all afternoon at Wembley. The 21-year-old looks as though he has added some timbers to the frame over the summer, too, and he was not one to struggle holding his own even as a slight teen.

The strike came days after England boss Gareth Southgate said Alli was not world class

He has the desire to entertain and the ability to deliver. Burnley’s players resorted to hacking him down, by the end. As he swapped passes with Harry Kane on the edge of Burnley’s penalty area, Alli twisted and turned and kept James Tarkoswki, Jack Cork and Steven Defour from the ball until Tarkowski had enough and booted him over (not before Alli had flicked a pass into Mousa Dembele) for a free kick.

The goal made him the eighth member of an exclusive club of players to score 30 Premier League goals before their 22nd birthday: Robbie Fowler on 82, Michael Owen, 73, Wayne Rooney, 59, Chris Sutton, 46, Romelu Lukaku, 41, Cristiano Ronaldo, 33, Emile Heskey, 31. 

In a recent piece of analysis by the International Centre for Sports Studies Alli was valued higher than Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, at £136.9m. Messi was valued at £133.9m and Ronaldo £99.2m, largely due to age. 

‘He’s a young player but he’s not a proven player,’ the England manager said last week.

Alli was recently valued higher than both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi

‘At the moment, he hasn’t won anything. Like all young players, he’s got to keep looking to improve. His goalscoring record over the past couple of years is phenomenal for a player who is not an out-and-out striker.’ 

Socrates didn’t win a trophy, and the Brazilian was a midfield genius. Tom Finney didn’t win a trophy, either, despite 14 years carrying Preston North End on his back as they came close. 

Alli is unlikely to play for Tottenham his whole career and when Barcelona or Real Madrid make their move in the coming years the trophies will arrive in droves. Maybe then Southgate will give him the credit he surely deserves. 

The attacking midfielder pounced to score the opening goal of the game against Burnley