In a deeply personal and emotionally charged interview with Gary Neville on The Overlap, Dele Alli, the former England international, bravely divulged details of a harrowing childhood that included instances of sexual abuse at the age of six and involvement in drug dealing by the age of eight. The heart-rending conversation between Dele and Neville, where both men fought back tears, shed light on the reasons behind the footballer’s recent career decline.
Dele candidly admitted that as an adult, he battled addiction to sleeping tablets and resorted to heavy drinking as a means to “escape from the reality” of his challenging upbringing before being adopted by the Hickford family. At one point, Dele even contemplated retirement at the age of 24. Recently, he spent six weeks in a mental health facility in the United States, an experience that proved transformative and reignited his passion for football. However, the threat of a tabloid expose on Dele’s rehabilitation compelled his representatives to approach Neville earlier than anticipated. This was reported by the Guardian.
During the interview, the Everton midfielder disclosed, “It’s not something I have spoken about that much, but there were a few incidents that give you an understanding. At six, I was molested by my mum’s friend, who was frequently present at our house while my mother battled alcoholism. That happened when I was just six. I was then sent to Africa to learn discipline but was eventually brought back. By the time I was seven, I had already started smoking, and at eight, I began selling drugs. An older individual told me that children riding bicycles were unlikely to be stopped, so I would ride around with my football while concealing drugs underneath. That was when I was just eight.”
“By the time I turned eleven, I was suspended from a bridge by a man from a neighboring area. At twelve, I was adopted, and from then on, I was fortunate to be taken in by an incredible family. I couldn’t have asked for better individuals to do what they did for me. If there is a God who creates people, it was surely them,” Dele shared.
I’m struggling to find the words to put with this post but please watch my most recent interview with Dele. It’s the most emotional, difficult yet inspirational conversation I’ve ever had in my life. Watch the interview on @wearetheoverlap here https://t.co/60d4IZwQmR pic.twitter.com/0cZowJGW77
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) July 13, 2023
The football star, who prefers to be addressed simply as Dele, acknowledged his addiction to sleeping tablets, which lasted for several years. Initially prescribed by a doctor, he later obtained them from sources “outside the game” as his addiction worsened. Friends and former teammates from Tottenham Hotspur, including Eric Dier and Harry Kane, attempted to assist him. However, Dele confessed, “I didn’t care, and I refused help from anyone. I had become emotionally numb. I am proud that I have overcome it now.”
Elaborating on his struggle, Dele explained, “I became addicted to sleeping tablets, and I believe this is a problem that extends beyond just me. It’s something that is more prevalent in football than people realize. Considering our demanding schedules, it’s not uncommon for players to use sleeping tablets to ensure they are well-rested for the next day after a match. But when your dopamine system is as damaged as mine was, the tablets can have the opposite effect. They do address the problems you wish to alleviate, and that’s precisely the problem—they work until they don’t. I certainly abused them.”
“For several years, I failed to address the underlying issues that were growing within me, the traumas I experienced, and the emotions I had been holding onto. I attempted to handle everything by myself. My adoptive family, my brother—they would pull me aside and cry, urging me to open up and share my feelings, but I simply couldn’t bring myself to do it. For a few years, I lost myself and pushed everyone away, even when the family who had saved my life cried and begged me to tell them what was wrong. I didn’t want to do it,” Dele revealed.
Dele no longer maintains contact with his birth parents after feeling “betrayed and hurt” by their accusations against his adoptive family in the media when he turned 18. He suggested that Mauricio Pochettino’s departure from Tottenham in 2019 played a role in the decline of his career, which had previously earned him two Professional Footballers’ Association Young Player of the Year awards in 2016 and 2017.
“It was tough for me when he left, and at that point, it became incredibly challenging for me to let anyone else into my life,” shared Dele, who was part of the England team that reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2018. “Engaging with other managers felt artificial to me, and I think it was due to my ego. I felt as though they didn’t genuinely want to know me on a personal level, so it became difficult for me to fully commit and give my all.”
Dele added, “One of the most heart-wrenching moments for me was when José Mourinho was the manager, and he stopped giving me playing time. I remember being in a dark place, looking at myself in the mirror, contemplating whether I should retire at the age of 24 while pursuing the very thing I loved. That thought shattered me. It hurt me deeply and burdened me further.”
With one year remaining on his Everton contract, uncertainty looms over Dele’s future and whether he features in Sean Dyche’s plans for the upcoming season. Additionally, Everton will owe Tottenham £10 million if Dele makes 20 appearances, and he has already made 13 appearances for the financially strained club.
Dele, currently recovering from an injury sustained during his loan spell at Besiktas last season, revealed, “Upon my return from Turkey, I discovered that I required surgery and was in a distressed mental state. I decided to seek treatment at a modern rehabilitation facility focusing on mental health. They address addiction, mental health issues, and trauma, and I believed it was the right step for me. Such decisions cannot be imposed on you; you must come to that realization and make the choice yourself; otherwise, it won’t work.”
“I was undoubtedly losing the battle internally, and it was time for me to change because when I got injured, and the need for surgery was revealed, I could feel the emotions surfacing—the same feelings I experienced when the vicious cycle began. I didn’t want that to happen again. So, I embarked on a six-week journey at the facility, and Everton’s support throughout was incredible. They stood by me 100%, and I will be forever grateful,” Dele shared sincerely.
