Dele Alli has shared a deeply personal account of the hardships he endured throughout his life, including being subjected to sexual abuse at the young age of six. In a heartfelt interview with Gary Neville on The Overlap, the Everton midfielder fought back tears as he recounted his early struggles before finding solace with the Hickford family, who adopted him.
During the interview, Dele also opened up about his battle with addiction to sleeping pills and his recent completion of a rehabilitation program to address his mental health issues. Reflecting on his journey, Dele spoke candidly, saying, “When I returned from Turkey, I learned that I required surgery and was in a dark place mentally. That’s when I made the decision to seek treatment at a rehab facility that specializes in addiction, mental health, and trauma. Everton showed incredible support throughout this process, and I will forever be grateful for their openness, honesty, and understanding during what was the most significant decision of my life; something I was initially afraid to do.”
Dele expressed his gratitude for the positive outcomes he experienced as a result of undergoing rehabilitation, explaining, “I never could have anticipated just how transformative and beneficial it would be for me mentally. At the time, I was in a very difficult place, but I completed the program three weeks ago and am now in a much better state of mind.”
In addition to discussing his mental health struggles, Dele disclosed the horrifying abuse he endured as a child. He shared, “At the age of six, I experienced molestation. Subsequently, I was sent to Africa in an attempt to instill discipline, only to be sent back shortly after. By the age of seven, I began smoking, and by eight, I was dealing drugs.” He went on to reveal the dangerous tactics he employed to conceal his illegal activities, saying, “An older individual advised me that authorities would not stop a child riding a bicycle, so I would ride around with my football on top and drugs hidden beneath.”
The interview also touched on Dele’s tumultuous relationship with former Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho, a period during which he contemplated ending his football career. Recounting the difficulties, Dele shared, “One morning, after Mourinho had stopped playing me, I looked at myself in the mirror and seriously questioned whether I should retire at the age of 24.
Dele also shed light on Mourinho’s apology for calling him “lazy” during their time together at Spurs. He explained, “That comment about being lazy, people always bring it up because it was captured in the Amazon documentary. But a week later, Mourinho apologized to me after witnessing my dedication and performance in training.”
Dele’s willingness to share his painful experiences serves as a testament to his resilience and determination to overcome adversity. His story highlights the importance of mental health support, understanding, and compassion within professional sports and society as a whole.
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… https://t.co/tzmhfGbq7j
— Everton (@Everton) July 13, 2023