Dele Alli, the former England star and current Everton player, has opened up about his traumatic childhood, including being physically abused at the age of six. In a candid interview with Gary Neville on his YouTube channel ‘The Overlap’, the 27-year-old footballer shared the difficult experiences that shaped his life and led him to seek help at a rehab facility in the United States. Alli revealed that at the age of six, he was molested by a close friend of his mother, who struggled with alcoholism. He spoke of the impact this had on his life, leading him down a troubled path at a young age.

He admitted to engaging in smoking and selling drugs by the age of eight, using his love for football as a cover to transport illicit substances. Additionally, he disclosed an incident at the age of 11 when he was hung off a bridge by an older individual from his neighborhood.

Alli credited his life-changing transformation to being adopted by ‘an amazing family’ at the age of 12. He expressed deep gratitude for the support and love he received from his adoptive parents, describing them as incredible individuals who made a significant difference in his life.

The footballer acknowledged that his childhood trauma had a profound impact on his mental health and led to destructive behaviors. Alli made the decision to enter a rehab facility for six weeks to address his struggles. He confessed to battling an addiction to sleeping tablets and relying on excessive drinking as a means of coping. Alli emphasized the importance of facing emotions instead of suppressing them, acknowledging that his experiences are not unique to him and suggesting that the issue may be more prevalent in football than people realize.

Alli shared a pivotal moment when he contemplated retiring from football at the age of 24, feeling overwhelmed by his personal struggles. He described a heartbreaking morning when he questioned whether he could continue pursuing the sport he loved. Ultimately, he found the strength to persevere and continue his career.

Gary Neville, the host of The Overlap, took to Twitter to express his emotions about the interview, describing it as the most emotional, difficult, yet inspirational conversation he has ever had.

Dele Alli returned to pre-season training with Everton last week, proving his commitment to the sport and his determination to move forward.