Dele Alli, the English international footballer, has recently opened up about being a victim of sexual abuse at the age of six, perpetrated by a close friend of his mother. During an interview on Gary Neville’s show “The Overlap,” the 27-year-old footballer also shared his struggle with sleeping tablet addiction and revealed that he sought treatment at a rehabilitation center in the United States for six weeks during the summer.
“In my early childhood, at the age of six, I experienced molestation,” disclosed the midfielder who currently plays for Everton, speaking to Gary Neville on The Overlap.
Afterward, I was sent to Africa to learn discipline. Then I was sent back. Seven, I started smoking. Eight I started dealing drugs, selling drugs. During my childhood, an adult once advised me not to attract attention, so I would carry my football around while secretly concealing drugs underneath. At the age of eleven, a person from the neighboring area hung me off a bridge. However, at twelve, I was fortunate enough to be adopted by an incredible family. I am immensely grateful for their support and care, and I believe they are truly exceptional individuals. Their presence in my life has made a significant positive impact, and I attribute a great deal of my progress to them.
I developed a dependency on sleeping tablets, and I believe it’s not just an issue unique to me. I think it’s a problem that is more prevalent in football than people realize.”
The professional footballer, who spent the previous season on loan at Besiktas, further explained, “Now feels like the right moment to share this. It’s difficult to discuss because it’s a relatively recent struggle that I’ve kept hidden for a long time, and I’m apprehensive about opening up. When I returned from Turkey, I discovered that I needed surgery.”
“Mentally, I was in a dark place. I made the decision to seek help at a modern rehabilitation facility that specializes in addiction, mental health, and trauma. It was a personal choice, something I had to decide on my own.”
“I had fallen into a destructive cycle, relying on substances that were harming me. Every day, I would wake up, put on a smile, and go to training, trying to show that I was happy. But internally, I was losing the battle, and it was time for a change. When I was informed about the need for surgery, it triggered the same emotions I had when the cycle began.”
“I must express my gratitude to Everton for their incredible support. Their honesty and understanding meant everything to me during a time when I was making the most significant decision of my life, something I was afraid to do. I’m glad I took that step.
