Jack Grealish backs Dele Alli after Bali training video sparks comeback

When Jack Grealish, a 30‑year‑old English winger on loan at Everton Football Club from Manchester City Football Club, dropped a string of clapping emojis and blue hearts on a former teammate’s Instagram post, football fans took notice.

The post in question was uploaded on Friday, 10 October 2025, at 16:10 UK time. It featured Dele Alli, the 29‑year‑old midfield‑man, sprinting through a tropical beachfront in Bali, Indonesia, while doing plyometric drills and sprint repeats. The clip, labelled a Bali training video, was meant to reassure supporters that the ex‑Everton star was still working hard despite being club‑less after a brief stint with Como 1907 that ended in September.

• Grealish – Premier League Player of the Month (August 2025) with four assists in his first two Everton games.
• Alli – only 13 appearances for Everton (2022‑2024) due to recurring injuries.
• World Cup 2026 starts in 244 days; Alli’s dream of a England call‑up hangs on a new contract.
• Thomas Tuchel – England manager who left Grealish out of his latest squad.

Background: Alli’s injury‑laden stint at Everton

Alli arrived at Goodison Park on 1 January 2022 after a high‑profile move from Tottenham Hotspur. In theory, the £15 million signing should have bolstered a midfield that was already struggling for creativity. In reality, a cascade of hamstring and ankle setbacks limited him to just 13 league appearances over two and a half seasons. The injuries not only robbed him of playing time but also eroded his confidence, culminating in a mutual termination of his contract on 30 June 2024.

After a brief cameo in Serie A – a solitary appearance for Como 1907 that ended in a red card for a foul on AC Milan’s Ruben Loftus‑Cheek – Alli found himself without a club. The episode in Como, played at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, amplified doubts about his fitness level and raised the question: could he ever return to top‑flight football?

Grealish’s loan spell and form at Everton

Grealish’s own story this season has been a study in redemption. After an injury‑plagued 2024‑25 with Manchester City under Pep Guardiola – where he managed just 342 minutes of league action – the winger secured a season‑long loan to Everton in July 2025. He hit the ground running, notching four assists in his opening two matches and earning the Premier League Player of the Month award for August.

His most dramatic contribution came on 22 September 2025, when he slotted a 93rd‑minute winner against Crystal Palace, lifting Everton to eighth place with 14 points from seven games. Yet despite his club heroics, Thomas Tuchel left him out of the England squad for the upcoming November qualifiers, a snub that has sparked endless debate on social media.

Social media support and its meaning

The Instagram exchange may look like a casual show of friendship, but in modern football it carries weight. Grealish’s comment – a series of 👏👏👏 and 💙💙 – was mirrored by teammates James Maddison (Tottenham Hotspur) and Ben Godfrey (Everton), who added, “Go and get what you deserve. My brother.” The collective endorsement turned a private training clip into a public statement of belief.

Earlier in August, the three players were photographed together on a beach in Ibiza, stirring a minor controversy over alleged breach of COVID‑19 protocols. While the clip drew criticism, it also underscored a tight‑knit group, informally dubbed “The Avengers”, that frequently leans on each other for moral support.

World Cup aspirations and expert view

During a 2024 appearance on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, Alli revealed he sets a daily alarm at 11:00 am with the reminder “World Cup 2026”. That habit, he said, fuels his determination to earn an England jersey despite a year out of competitive matches.

Football analysts, however, are skeptical. Without a contract, Alli cannot showcase his fitness to the national team staff. Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, speaking on a YouTube interview on 20 June 2025, warned, “He needs to find a club, get minutes, and then the England door opens. Right now, it’s a pipe dream.”

The 2026 FIFA World Cup – officially FIFA World Cup Qatar 2026United States, Canada & Mexico – begins in just 244 days. England’s squad is expected to be a blend of seasoned stars and emerging talent, leaving little room for a player who hasn’t logged a competitive minute since September 2025.

What lies ahead for both players

Alli’s immediate goal is simple: secure a contract. Rumours link him with a short‑term deal at a Championship side willing to gamble on his fitness, or perhaps a return to Serie B where he could rebuild form away from the Premier League spotlight. If he does land a club and regains match sharpness, the England coach could at least consider him as a fringe option for the World Cup qualifiers.

For Grealish, the pressure is of a different flavor. He must keep delivering for Everton – a club that has already climbed to the top half of the table thanks in part to his creativity – while simultaneously making a case for his own England recall. A strong second half of the season could force Tuchel’s hand, especially if injuries thin England’s attacking options.

Both players illustrate how modern football careers can hinge on a single Instagram post, a timely tweet, or a well‑timed training clip. Their stories also remind fans that behind the headlines are professionals battling injuries, contracts, and national team ambitions.