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The 27-year-old star sat down on The Overlap with Manchester United legend Gary Neville for a hard-hitting, emotional conversation that left the former Red Devils right-back in tears.
Everton midfielder Dele Alli has courageously opened up first time about the off-field issues that have stalled what was once a promising career that seemed destined for greatness.
The 27-year-old star sat down on The Overlap with Manchester United legend Gary Neville for a hard-hitting, emotional conversation that left the former Red Devils right-back in tears.
Dele detailed how a timeline of events in his childhood shaped his childhood forever. He claimed, at 6, he was molested by his mom’s friend who was at the house a lot.
"It is something I haven't really spoken about. There were a few instances. At six, I was molested,” a visibly moved Dele revealed.
Dele Alli was born to a Nigerian father and an English mother and was raised by his mom whom Dele admitted suffered alcohol problems.
The Everton midfielder also shared how he was sent to Africa to live with his birth father, but returned to the UK after six months where more hardship awaited him.
"I was sent to Africa to learn discipline then I was sent back," he said. "It was horrible, I did not want to be there.”
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15:56 - 13.07.2023
TRANSFERS Young explains Everton's deal despite club's poor form
The Premier League, Serie A, Europa League, FA Cup, and League Cup winner joins the Toffees on a free transfer.
“At seven, I started smoking. At eight, I started dealing drugs. An older person told me they wouldn't stop a kid so I would cycle around with my football and the drugs underneath. At eleven I was hung over a bridge by a guy from the next estate. At twelve I was adopted.”
Dele also revealed that he opted to seek treatment for his addiction to sleeping tablets by checking himself into rehab.
"I decided to go to a modern rehab facility that deals with addiction and mental health and trauma. I felt it was time for me. You can't be told to go there, you have to make the decision yourself," he said.
Dele had the world at his feet during the Mauricio Pochettino era at Spurs, winning the PFA Young Player of the Year award twice in 2015-16 and 2016-17, but things have been on a downward spiral for a few years now.
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