Alli: "Go Sage Mode on em!"— Naruto fans offer Everton's Dele Alli support after he posts update animation inspired by series

Naruto fans, among other animanga lovers, were pleased to see a post on X from English footballer Dele Alli on August 5, 2024. Following a period of fitness issues, the Everton midfielder looks to be recovering well and back on track to hopefully securing a starting place for his club.

Alli took to X to post a well-made edit of himself melded with different anime characters, including the mega-popular Naruto Uzumaki, Nine-Tailed Fox Kurama, Zoro, and Rock Lee. The post was well received by football and animanga fans alike.

Dele Alli's social media update yields cheers from Naruto fans

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English footballer and Everton midfielder Dele Alli took to social media to share an update. He posted 37 edits of himself featuring anime characters like Naruto Uzumaki, Kurama, Zoro, and Rock Lee, in that order.

The post showcased him in the Sage Mode pose, transitioning to glimpses of his training and preparation before ending with him "unlocking" the Nine Tails Mode. The post was captioned:

"'In The World, No One Is Perfect. Even If You Keep Pursuing Perfection, You'll Never Reach It. But Along The Way, You'll Become Something Great' - Naruto Uzumaki."

Such a post is significantly positive, considering Alli's state of affairs. Previously, before the 2023/24 football season, Alli appeared on Gary Neville's The Overlap on YouTube on July 13, 2023, and through an interview, opened up about his struggles with addiction and being a victim of abuse as a child. Further, groin surgery and subsequent fitness setbacks kept him off the field.

However, things look to be turning around for the England national as he has undergone surgery and rehabilitation and has focused on regaining his fitness. Presently, his contract at Goodison Park has lapsed, as many believe he has already played his last game in an Everton shirt. But there could be a change of pace for him.

Naruto fans full of encouragement for Everton footballer Dele Alli

Dele Alli's post was met with complete encouragement as countless fans were excited at the positive update he provided. Having been previously tipped as a promising player, Alli is expected to make a comeback this upcoming 2024/25 season.

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One fan likened the Number 1 Knucklehead Ninja's celebrated moment to Dele Alli's post. Commenting "Go Sage Mode on em!" showcases one of many people aligning Alli's return to Naruto's when the latter fought Pain, with Sage Mode under his belt. Animanga fans are no strangers to what happened next as the intense power of Senjutsu Chakra (Natural Energy+Chakra) shone brightly.

"Keep fighting, my man, you will be back and you will be even better than before… I believe in you," a fan posted.

Another section of viewers voiced their belief in the player with strong words of encouragement. They were highly respectful and in support of Alli's internal battles. Now, with circumstances looking better, they were waiting for him to don the Everton shirt once more.

"Ready for the greatest comeback in football," a supporter cheered.

Many fans have shown how long they have waited for this moment. Previously, Dele Alli was tipped as one of the world's most promising youngsters, even winning PFA Young Player of the Year two years running. His style of play, football IQ, and skills were recognized and praised by many.

"Dele, the greatest gift you can give to football is to bring yourself back to the game. We love you!" a netizen chimed.

Other netizens expressed their desire to just see Alli play once more. Needless to say, Alli brought joy to countless worldwide with his impressively well-rounded skillset and goalscoring prowess.

"Dele ali collecting chakra atm, comeback would be a blast...Dattebayo!" an X user posted.

Finally, one user provided an alternative view to Alli's situation, stating that he was MIA due to him being busy collecting Chakra. This is akin to Naruto disappearing while he trained at Mount Myoboku with the toads.

The blonde amassed a ton of Senjutsu Chakra before switching to Sage Mode and facing Pain. Similarly, Alli's recovery was him doing the same before a comeback.

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About the author

Casey has been an anime writer at Sportskeeda since almost a year. Being drawn into the world of animanga after watching the Dragon Ball series almost a decade ago, Casey's interest in the genre, along with his love of crafting plot theories influenced his writerly endeavors. Presently pursuing a Master's degree in International Business, Casey worked for Uneake and FootballExpress for 1.3 years before joining Sportskeeda.

Casey's writings reflect his commitment to producing the most reliable content, evidenced by his flair for in-depth reporting. He places a high value on meticulous research and complete factual accuracy.

Although it was legendary Akira Toriyama’s magnum opus that influenced his love of animanga, Casey soon branched out and explored other titles. The unique ways in which mangakas express ideas, as well as their far-reaching effects, have inspired Casey in his creative pursuits.

When not busy writing, Casey enjoys working out, listening to music, strumming the guitar, and playing football.

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Edited by Ahana Mukhopadhyay