On Christmas Day five years ago, Dele Alli appeared to have the world at his feet.
The 26-year-old had not only established himself as a Premier League player after making the jump from League One outfit MK Dons back in 2015, but he had managed to cement his burgeoning reputation as one of Europe's top prospects during the 2016/17 campaign which would see him go on to plunder 22 goals in all competitions for Tottenham.
12 months later, Alli was even on the scoresheet for England in the quarter-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Speculation was rife that one of Europe's elite footballing establishments would swoop for the attacking midfielder's services.
Nobody could have possibly predicted just how badly Alli's influence would wane from that moment on. Even now, his decline almost defies belief.
This year, Alli will be facing a very different Christmas in Turkey with Besiktas: the Turkish giants who offered Alli the chance to rebuild a career that has slowly eroded.
But after making a slow start to life in the Turkish Super Lig, Alli's misery was compounded earlier this week when he was substituted just 29 minutes into a Turkish cup tie against third-tier outfit Şanlıurfa.
The former England star was even jeered by his own fans as he left the field with his side trailing 2-0. After Alli's exit, Besiktas rallied and ended up progressing after battling back to win 4-2 against the lower league minnows.
Alli's latest setback underlines just how badly the midfielder's stock has fallen since his Tottenham exit.
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As Alli's numbers continued to dip at White Hart Lane, so did his game time. The goals dried up, as did his telepathic understanding with Spurs talisman Harry Kane. Jose Mourinho made a last-ditch attempt to try and get through to Alli - a moment that saw the Portuguese chief slammed when it aired as part of an Amazon documentary.
"One day I think you will regret it if you don’t reach what you can reach," the former Spurs chief ominously predicted. Unfortunately for Alli, Mourinho's analysis has aged well.
Alli was tipped to revive his career after linking up Frank Lampard at Everton last January. Goodison Park appeared to be the perfect destination for Alli: Lampard is widely acknowledged as one of the finest attacking midfielders in Premier League history courtesy of his prolific Chelsea stint. If anyone was able to help Alli rediscover his spark, then surely, it was Lampard.
"I think it's sometimes support and sometimes tough love," Lampard said after underling how excited he was to work with Alli. "Sometimes you have to hear serious things to get the best out of yourself. Dele or any player that is."
But even Lampard, who has scored more goals from midfield than any other player in top-flight history, was unable to resuscitate Alli's career - and he was more than happy to offload Alli when Besiktas came calling in the summer.
Again, a season-long loan in Turkey should have been the perfect opportunity for Alli to rebuild his reputation away overseas - but instead, the midfielder's career has sunk to new lows.
Alli has scored twice in nine appearances for the Turkish giants but has been unable to recapture the sort of form that made him one of Europe's most coveted players earlier in his career.
Turkey is one of the few countries that play competitive football on Christmas Day. Besiktas travel to Gaziantep, but whether or not Alli features after being hooked off earlier this week remains to be seen. After being heckled by fans and Turkish journalists online, already, Alli's position at the club appears to be bordering on untenable.
One thing is for certain: if anyone needs some good fortune in the New Year, it's Alli.
