Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli revealed on Gary Neville's Overlap podcast that he suffered sexual abuse as a child and used to deal drugs at eight years old.
Alli, who debuted for Spurs in 2015 and was part of the 2019 Champions League final side, has seen a decline in his career, moving to Everton and then spending the 2022-23 season on loan at Besiktas.
Alli opened up about his troubled childhood, revealing he was molested by his mom's friend at six, began smoking at seven, and dealing drugs at eight.
The 27-year-old recounted traumatic events, including being hung off a bridge at 11, and being adopted at 12, emphasizing the positive impact of his adoptive family.
Alli confessed to an addiction to sleeping tablets, a problem that he believes is more prevalent in football than people realize.
He also shared his struggles with dealing with his traumas and feelings on his own, acknowledging the support of his adoptive family and his regret at pushing people away.