‘Proud of you’: Dele Alli’s girlfriend Cindy Kimberly, 24, shows her support for the Everton star after he bravely opened up about his addiction to sleeping pills, abuse and drug sales as a child
Dele Alli’s girlfriend Cindy Kimberly has told the Everton star she is proud of him after he bravely opened up about the traumatic events that happened in his life.
In a heartbreaking interview with Gary Nevillethe former Spurs midfielder spoke about his career struggles, struggles with addiction and attending rehab on an episode of The Overlap.
The 27-year-old also revealed how he was abused at the age of six, started selling drugs at the age of eight and was adopted four years later.
The England international was moved to tears as he spoke candidly with Manchester United legend Neville, as he hoped opening up could help others cope with their trauma.
And after the interview aired, Alli’s girlfriend Kimberly, 24, took to social media to support him.
“Proud of you,” Kimberly wrote Thursday morning.
Alli was heralded as a generational talent during his early days at Tottenham, but his career has not turned out as many predicted.
The England star emerged as one of the country’s top young talents, despite a troubled childhood that saw him placed in foster care.
In a candid conversation with Neville, Alli revealed that he recently spent a stint in rehab for becoming addicted to sleeping pills.
He said: ‘I became addicted to sleeping tablets, it’s a problem not just me. It goes around more than people realize in football.
“This is probably the right time to tell people. It’s hard to talk about it because it’s quite recent and something that I’ve kept hidden for a long time and I’m afraid to talk about it.
“When I came back from Turkey (after a rental period at Besiktas) I came back and found out that I needed an operation.
I was in a bad place mentally. I decided to go to modern rehab that deals with addiction and mental health and trauma. I felt it was time for me.
“You can’t be told to go there, you have to make the decision yourself.
“I was in a bad cycle. I trusted things that hurt me. I woke up every day, won the fight and went to practice smiling every day – willing to show that I was happy.
“Inside I was losing the battle and it was time to change. When I was told I needed surgery I could feel the feelings I had when the cycle started.
“So I went there for six weeks. Everton were amazing and supportive, I will be forever grateful to them. That they were so honest and understanding that I couldn’t ask for anything more at a time when I was making the biggest decision of my life – doing something I was afraid of. I’m glad I did.
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