---
title: "Alli: I turned Reds down"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/alli-i-turned-reds-down/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Sam Davies"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2015-07-07T16:25:40Z"
modified: "2015-07-07T17:25:41Z"
---

# Alli: I turned Reds down

New Tottenham Hotspur signing Dele Alli has revealed that he turned down the chance to join Liverpool.

The 19-year-old was signed by Spurs in January for an initial £5m from SkyBet League One side Milton Keynes Dons before being loaned back for the remainder of the season.

Months before the England Under-19 international agreed a moved to White Hart Lane, Dons manager Karl Robinson had accepted a £3.5m bid from Liverpool.

Alli told FourFourTwo why he didn’t opt for Merseyside: *“At the time I didn’t feel it was the right move personally, and I wanted to stay at MK a bit longer to get some more first-team experience.*

*“I knew if I got more experience by the end of the season that I’d be ready to move.”*

Despite the fact that Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is known for giving opportunities to young talent, and Alli being a lifelong Liverpool supporter, the youngster opted to stay at Stadium MK.

[![Clive Mason/Getty Images](https://readeverything.co/readliverpool/readliverpoolfc/2015/07/Screen-Shot-2015-07-07-at-18.23.19.png)](https://readeverything.co/readliverpool/readliverpoolfc/2015/07/Screen-Shot-2015-07-07-at-18.23.19.png)

Alli, who has been with MK Dons since the age of 11, wanted to find a manager similar to his former boss Karl Robinson:

*“When we were looking at moving I think it was really important that we found a manager who was similar to the gaffer \[Robinson\].*

*“Someone who has a lot of trust in young players and isn’t scared to put them on. I can see that in the manager \[at Spurs\], so it’s a great move for me.”*