What Dele Alli Said To Ashley Young In Spat On The Pitch

Tempers flared between Ashley Young and Dele Alli in yesterday's lunchtime kick-off, and it's now been revealed what Alli said in the exchange.

In the first half of the game at Old Trafford, which United won 1-0 through a late goal from Anthony Martial, the pair squared up and had words and players on both sides had to intervene.

Images: PA

The incident in the 30th minute stemmed from Young going down under the challenge of Serge Aurier and claiming he had been struck in the face.

Alli got involved, and according to the Manchester Evening News, the 21-year old England star told United's No.18 to "retire with a zimmer frame".

But Young had an insult of his own, shutting Alli down by saying, "let me know when you win the Prem".

Ashley Young

"When you've won the Prem, let me know". Stone cold from Ashley Young. Image: Sky Sports

Dele Alli

Alli had no comeback. Image: Sky Sports

The Spurs midfielder had no comeback to offer the former Aston Villa man and his misery was compounded when he missed a glorious opportunity to open the scoring in the second half, mere minutes before Martial went up the other end and bagged the winner.

Alli's performance saw him receive plenty of stick on social media, yesterday, albeit too harshly, but Mauricio Pochettino will be hoping for better displays from the attacking midfielder in the coming weeks, especially if Harry Kane is to miss much more action due to his current injury.

Gary Neville, on co-commentary duty for Sky Sports, had his say on the incident when it took place in the first half and felt that Young's ploy was to try and get Alli sent off, given that he has something of a reputation of getting easily riled up.

"Ashley Young knows exactly what he is doing and there might have been a time when Dele Alli would have reacted and thrown his head forward, but he hasn't," Neville said.

"His [Alli's] heart would have been saying 'I want to break your nose,' his head would have been saying, 'don't lose the game for my team.'"

Topics: Spurs, Football, Manchester United, Dele Alli, Ashley Young

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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