Dele Alli was the definition of successful scouting. After making the £5 million move to the Premier League when he was just 18 years old, he flourished under Mauricio Pochettino into one of the most exciting young prospects in the top flight.
Unfortunately, the career of the former Tottenham player took a drastic turn for the worse, and Spurs fans watched in horror as their prized youngster declined at a rapid pace. In an interview with Gary Neville, Alli reveals the hardships that occurred in his life and how football has affected his mental state throughout his career.
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Dele Alli Opens up About Trauma and His Time in Rehab
The Rough Beginnings for Dele Alli
It would be an understatement to say that Alli had it rough before he started playing football professionally. Between ages six and eight, the Englishman discussed how he was molested. He went on to heartbreakingly describe – dealing drugs and smoking at an early age. Furthermore, a man threatened his life by holding him off a bridge at age eleven. During the interview, Alli said. “I’m scared to talk about it,” referring to his childhood. You could see the difficulty for the 27-year-old when talking about the trauma he’s experienced.
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Although he was able to make it as a professional footballer at 16 years old, these experiences contributed to the trauma that the former Tottenham player had to deal with. However, it appears that progress has been made in terms of overcoming these issues. The ex-Spurs midfielder talked about how his time in rehab has helped him get to a healthy enough space to discuss his traumas openly.
Parties and Pills: The Not So Glamorous Life of a Footballer
A big theme surrounding the interview between Alli and Gary Neville is mental health. Having to deal with constant rejection and belittlement by fans, he turned to partying and sleeping pills as a coping mechanism. It is difficult to watch someone go through the trials he has undergone at such a young age. It seems as if he’s gone through a lifetime of hardships despite only being 27 years old.
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Is There Time for Dele Alli to Revive His Career?
Even if he gets back to playing his best football, his achievements will likely be overshadowed by the poor form he’s displayed during these past few seasons. Still, he has time to find his feet under Sean Dyche. The Everton player and manager have had “good conversations” which signals that a positive relationship exists between them.
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It’s massively unfortunate that the career of Dele Alli has played out the way it has, but hopefully, his story of recovery and willingness to change will help prevent a repeat of this for future footballers or athletes in general. He was previously described as “sensational,” and it remains to be seen if he can rediscover that impressive form he showed earlier in his career.
The NSPCC’s confidential 24-hour helpline is 0808 800 5000; Childline is 0800 1111. Police urge victims of sexual abuse to call 101.
Main Photo Credit: David Hudson on Flickr, CC BY 2.0
