Dele Alli pictured with balloon in mouth surrounded by gas canisters

Everton player Dele Alli has been pictured with a balloon in his mouth while surrounded by canisters and alcohol after returning from Besiktas due to injury. The former England midfielder had fallen out of favour with Besiktas manager Senol Gunes, who admitted that Alli did not match his expectations.

The photo, posted to social media site BeReal, showed Alli surrounded by several other people who also had balloons in their mouths in a Salford apartment. The group were sitting at a table littered with canisters which appear to contain nitrous oxide.

Alternatively known as laughing gas, or ‘hippy crack’, possession of it is not illegal but Home Secretary Suella Braverman wants to introduce new laws banning it amid concerns over adverse health effects. 

Also visible in the picture is a £215 bottle of Clase Azule tequila, several bottles of 16.5-per-cent strength Magnum tonic wine and a tin of Siberia ‘extremely strong’ snus, which is a type of chewing tobacco.

The emergence of the photo comes just a matter of days after reports claiming that Alli’s loan spell with Besiktas had been cut short. The 26-year-old returned to England at the weekend for treatment on a hip injury, which will supposedly keep him out for the remainder of the season. 

Everton boss Sean Dyche kept his cards close to his chest on the matter, explaining: “He is just getting some treatment and he is injured. He is under contract in a loan there.”

Alli made his senior breakthrough with MK Dons but burst onto the scene after joining Tottenham as a teenager, notching 28 Premier League goals from midfield across his first two seasons.

Things have rapidly gone from bad to worse for the Everton man, however, with only one Premier League goal to his name since 2019/20. Alli was brought to Goodison Park by Frank Lampard, who has since moved on, bringing fresh uncertainty to his future on Merseyside.

Dele Alli’s representatives have been contacted by Express Sport for comment.