Dele Alli has opened up on how it feels to have Tottenham fans continue to sing his name, four years on from his exit.
The attacking midfielder was a vital part of the Mauricio Pochettino side at Tottenham, which came close to winning the Premier League and the Champions League.
It did not take long for Dele to become a fan favourite, with the White Hart Lane faithful falling in love with his cheekiness, audacity and skill almost instantly.
The England international looked destined for big things at the time, but some off-field issues, fitness problems and loss of form have seen his career nosedive over recent years.
Dele Alli admits he gets emotional when Tottenham fans sing his name
The 29-year-old, who is currently without a club, returned to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last Sunday for the North London derby.
He revealed that seeing videos of the Spurs fans singing his name sometimes makes him feel emotional.
Addressing the supporters, Dele told Tottenham’s official channel: “I think I have to owe you guys a bigger thank you.
MORE SPURS STORIES
“The love and the support I felt from the fans during my whole time at Tottenham was surreal. So I think I owe you guys a thank you rather than you owe me a thank you.
“I see some videos online [of them singing my name]. For me it’s felt like I have a very special connection with them and sometimes it makes me a little bit emotional. Seeing the videos getting love and appreciation. It feels good.”
Dele admits his personality was a natural fit for Spurs
The MK Dons academy graduate instantly clicked in a Tottenham shirt when he arrived as a teenager in 2015.
Dele admitted that Tottenham’s love for attacking flair and his personality were a natural fit from day one.
When asked about the connection he forged with Spurs, he said: “Me being me, I like to have fun and I like to entertain. Off the pitch it kind of showed.
“To dare is to do is what Tottenham is about and I showed a lot of that in my personality, and that is the way I am as a person. It was quite easy to relate.”