Alli had not played a single minute of senior football since as far back as February 2023, when he last featured for Besiktas, but his return did not go as he would have hoped at the San Siro. With Como trailing 2-1, Alli raked his studs down Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s standing leg from behind and was initially shown a yellow card for the challenge.

Just 10 minutes after coming on to make his first appearance for any club in two years, the former England midfielder saw red.