Started smoking at seven
Dele Alli tearfully speaks of abuse
07/13/2023, 6:20 p.m
Sexually molested, already smoked and dealt as an adolescent: In a podcast, the England international Dele Alli talks about his difficult childhood in a trembling voice. He also received encouraging words from the royal family.
England footballer Dele Alli has spoken movingly about his role as a victim of child sexual abuse and other serious trauma. The 27-year-old professional from Everton FC reported in tears and with a trembling voice in the podcast “The Overlap” by ex-pro Gary Neville that he was an eight-year-old drug dealer. He’s also been through withdrawal because of his addiction to sleeping pills.
At the age of six, he was sexually molested by his mother’s boyfriend, Alli said. His mother was an alcoholic. He started smoking when he was seven and started selling drugs when he was eight. His situation only improved when he was twelve, when he was adopted “by a wonderful family”.
Prince William: “We are all with you”
Alli received a lot of encouragement for his open words. Prince William called the statements “brave and inspiring”. Talking about mental health is “not a sign of weakness. We are all with you,” wrote William, who, as president of the FA, is also committed to mental health in sport, on Twitter.
With the six-week rehab that Alli has just completed, he also wants to get his faltering career going again, he said. After his breakthrough at Tottenham Hotspur and third place in the World Cup with the national team in 2018, there was soon a kink. His move to Everton and a loan to Istanbul to Besiktas have not brought a recovery so far.
He was mentally “in bad shape” before rehab, Alli reported, who sees his difficult childhood as the cause. “A lot happened when I was younger that I never understood.” Alli wants to help other victims with his report, he explained. He also believes that addiction to pills is more widespread in football than many assume. He also wanted to encourage affected kicker colleagues.