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Dele Alli
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Tottenham Hotspur Preview Dele: "Now is the Time to Talk". Trigger warning: Sexual abuse, addiction and mental health. In this powerful episode of The Overlap, Gary Neville sits down to have a heartfelt conversa ...more...
- 43 min
- 6M
- The Overlap
Jul 13, 2023 · In an emotional interview with former England footballer Gary Neville, Dele revealed the abuse he suffered as a child before he was adopted aged 12. He said he was "molested" aged six,...
- Overview
- 'Sleeping tablets helped me fix something I didn't know I could'
- 'People don't realise the mental toll of football'
- Everton and PFA praise Alli's disclosure
Dele Alli has revealed he was sexually abused at the age of six.
In a candid and emotional interview, the 27-year-old also revealed he had an addiction to sleeping tablets and disclosed how he spent six weeks in rehab in the USA this summer.
After winning the last of his 37 England caps in 2019, Alli fell out of favour at Tottenham which prompted a transfer to Everton, where he has since struggled to make an impact, spending last season on loan at Besiktas.
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In an interview with Gary Neville on The Overlap, Alli revealed how childhood trauma had contributed to the problems he has encountered in recent years.
Alli on his addiction to sleeping tablets:
"Before when I'd stop, I'd still sometimes have the urge, but I'd maintain [being] sober for a period of time and then there'd always be a time where something would happen, I'd get the feelings back and I'd want to escape. I was taking a lot - I don't want to talk about numbers, but it was definitely way too much.
"And there were some scary moments. The teams give you them for a reason - to sleep. I wasn't taking them to sleep, I'd take them throughout the day, sometimes from 11am if I had the day off. I would never take them if I was playing, but I'd start early if I had the day off, just to escape from the reality.
"It started with a doctor giving them to me and then it turned into more than that. When you want something, you'll find a way. At the start, it was one to sleep - and, for most people, that's fine. You can handle that, that's all you need. But, for me, it was fixing something else that I didn't know I could fix."
Alli on the moment he contemplated retirement:
"Don't get me wrong, I love football. It's saved my life. I owe everything to football. But it's not just as easy as everyone thinks it is. Yes, you have money and you can do a lot of things you wouldn't be able to do without it, but mentally, until you're in it, I don't think people will ever understand what it can do to you.
"Probably the saddest moment for me was when Jose Mourinho was [Tottenham] manager. I was 24. I remember there was one session - this is when he'd stopped playing me - I was in a bad place and I remember just looking in the mirror. It sounds dramatic, but I was literally staring in the mirror and asking if I could retire now, at 24, doing the thing I love.
"For me, that was heart-breaking to even have had that thought. That hurt me and was another thing I had to carry."
Image: The world of sport reached out in support of Dele Alli
After the interview was released, Everton issued a statement commending Alli's bravery and asking for his privacy to be respected.
An Everton spokesperson said: "The club has been supporting Dele in both his return to fitness and overcoming the personal challenges highlighted in his interview with The Overlap.
"Everyone at Everton respects and applauds Dele's bravery to speak about the difficulties he has faced, as well as seek the help required.
"The physical and mental welfare of all our players is of paramount importance. The club takes very seriously its responsibility in protecting the confidentiality of players and staff.
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- 2 min
Jul 13, 2023 · The Everton player told all about his addiction to sleeping tablets and a six-month stay in a rehabilitation centre in the United States. #SkySportsNews #SkySports #delealli For the latest ...
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- Sky Sports News
Jul 13, 2023 · Everton midfielder Dele Alli has opened up on his mental health struggles and revealed he was sexually abused as a child. In an emotional interview with Gary Neville on The Overlap, the...
Jul 13, 2023 · Everton midfielder Dele Alli revealed he suffered childhood trauma including sexual abuse and underwent treatment for substance abuse in an interview on Gary Neville's YouTube channel, The...
Jul 13, 2023 · Everton midfielder Dele Alli has opened up on his recent mental health problems and childhood trauma, including being molested by his mother's friend when he was a young child.
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