{"id":1315868,"date":"2023-07-13T17:44:35","date_gmt":"2023-07-13T16:44:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1315868"},"modified":"2023-07-13T22:46:27","modified_gmt":"2023-07-13T21:46:27","slug":"football-support-dele-alli-trauma","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/football-support-dele-alli-trauma\/","title":{"rendered":"The football world shows support as Dele Alli opens up on addiction and childhood trauma"},"content":{"rendered":"

The footballing world has shown support for Dele Alli after the Everton midfielder opened up on his traumatic childhood and struggles with addiction.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dele, 27, won back-to-back PFA Young Player of the Year awards in 2016 and 2017 while starring in title-challenging Tottenham sides. He was sold to Everton in January of last year and subsequently loaned to Besiktas for the recently concluded campaign, a deal cancelled prematurely due to injury.<\/p>\n

The moves made Dele the subject of critical commentary from some pundits. But he has now revealed the personal pain behind this phase of his career, involving a sleeping pill addiction, drinking to “escape the reality” of his childhood trauma and a desire to retire from football aged just 24.<\/p>\n

In an emotional interview with Gary Neville, his former coach at international level, for The Overlap<\/a><\/strong>, Dele said: “At six, I was molested by my mum’s friend who was at the house a lot. My mum was an alcoholic.<\/p>\n

“I was sent to Africa to learn discipline. Then I was sent back. Seven, I started smoking. Eight I started dealing drugs, selling drugs. An older person told me they wouldn’t stop a kid so I’d ride around with my football and then underneath I’d have the drugs.<\/p>\n

“Eleven, I was hung off a bridge by a guy from the next estate. At 12, I was adopted by an amazing family, I couldn’t have asked for better people to do what they’ve done for me\u2026 If God created people, it was them. They are amazing and have helped me a lot.”<\/p>\n

These events help explain why he chose to drop the surname ‘Alli’ from his shirt in 2016.<\/p>\n

Following surgery in spring of this year to address an injury sustained while playing in Turkey, Dele decided to use the time to attend a modern-day rehab facility for mental health.<\/p>\n

“They deal with addiction, mental health and trauma,” Alli said while also making clear that he was opening up earlier than he would like, prompted by the threat of tabloid stories on his treatment.<\/p>\n

“I felt like it was time for me. You can’t be told to go there. You have to know and make the decision yourself or it’s not going to work. I was caught in a bad cycle. I was relying on things that were doing me harm.”<\/p>\n

Dele explained how he began taking sleeping pills to counteract the adrenaline experienced in evenings before matches: “It’s something going around more than people realise in football. Maybe me coming out and speaking about it can help people.<\/p>\n

“I definitely abused them too much. I would stop sometimes and go a few months without them but I was never really dealing with the problem.<\/p>\n

“It got really bad at some points and I didn’t understand how bad it was but I was never dealing with the root of the problem, which was – when I was growing up – the traumas I had and the feelings I was holding on to.<\/p>\n

“I was taking a lot. I don’t want to get into numbers but it was definitely way too much and I had some scary moments.”<\/p>\n

“Hearing Dele speak with such openness will make a difference”<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The story came as a shock to football fans and has been met with an outpouring of support.<\/p>\n

“The club has been supporting Dele in both his return to fitness and overcoming the personal challenges highlighted in his interview with The Overlap,” read a statement released by Everton.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

“Dele will not be conducting any further interviews in relation to his rehabilitation, and we ask that his privacy is respected while he continues his recuperation from injury and receives the full care and support needed for his physical and mental wellbeing.”<\/p>\n

During the interview, Dele told Neville: “Everton were amazing and supported me. I will be grateful to them forever. For them to be so honest and understanding I couldn’t ask for anything more during a time I was making the biggest decision of my life – doing something I was scared to do. I’m happy I’ve done it.”<\/p>\n

Former clubs Tottenham and did MK Dons — where the midfielder started his career — published their own messages of support.<\/p>\n

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On Dele’s Instagram post sharing the interview, the Englishman received comments of support from the likes of Ryan Sessegnon, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, James Maddison, Kyle Walker-Peters, Ben Chilwell and Marcus Rashford among many, many others.<\/p>\n

“Proud of you brother! Love you always,” Maddison’s comment read.<\/p>\n

“So proud of you bro, love you,” said Walker-Peters.<\/p>\n

“Extremely proud of you bro,” Calvert-Lewin added.<\/p>\n

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The PFA’s statement read: “It’s incredibly brave of Dele to tell his story with such honesty in this important interview with Gary Neville.<\/p>\n

“Hearing Dele speak with such openness will make a difference, and his desire to use his own experiences to act as an inspiration to others – inside and outside of football – is something he should be extremely proud of.”<\/p>\n

A tweet attributed to Prince William, who is president of the FA, from the Prince and Princess of Wales’ official account spoke of Dele’s bravery in giving his interview and pushed for more discussions to do with mental health.<\/p>\n

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Brave and inspirational @dele_official<\/a>. Discussing mental health is not a sign of weakness. Let\u2019s keep the conversation going.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re all with you and we wish you the very best. W https:\/\/t.co\/25iffmKhSb<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) July 13, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n