Trigger warning: Sexual abuse, addiction and mental health.
In this powerful episode of The Overlap, Gary Neville sits down to have a heartfelt conversation with Dele, as he courageously speaks about his recent circumstances on and off the pitch and the profound challenges he endured throughout his childhood and long-lasting effects of trauma it has caused him.
Dele opens up about his recent battle with addiction and his remarkable journey of rehabilitation as well his unwavering aspiration to inspire those facing similar circumstances to speak up.
Dele hopes his brave admission can inspire others to seek the help they need. If you or anyone you know has been affected by any of the themes in this interview you can speak to the following organisations.
Samaritans – https://www.samaritans.org/
NSPCC – https://www.nspcc.org.uk/
FRANK – https://www.talktofrank.com/
Mind – https://www.mind.org.uk/
00:00 – 02:19 What happened to Dele?
02:19 – 05:55 Mental health & rehab
05:55 – 07:05 Timeline & influence of tabloid media
07:05 – 10:27 The start of addiction & not being able to open up
10:27 – 13:32 Sleeping tablets in Football and Dele’s experience
13:32 – 17:06 Mourinho & the start of career difficulty
17:33 – 19:15 Upbringing & childhood trauma
19:15 – 20:43 Adoption and teenage life
20:43 – 23:48 Relationship with birth parents
23:55 – 25:40 How rehab in USA has helped Dele
25:40 – 26:46 Having passion back for football & inspiring others
26:46 – 29:20 Poch & life at Spurs
29:20 – 31:39 The truth about being called “lazy” by Mourinho
31:39 – 33:46 Relationship with Kane and Dier
34:05 – 35:21 Becoming a better player and person
35:21 – 39:17 Moving forward & the media’s perception
39:17 – 42:05 Everton & getting back on the pitch
42:05 – 43:25 Conclusion & advice for others
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43 Comments
You can overcome it. You are strong enough.
He deserves everything he's gotten…and everything that comes to him… 🐒
Namaste 🙏 thankyou God bless 🙏 🙌 💖 ❤️ ✨️ all 😊😅😮😢🎉😂❤❤❤❤❤all is SHIVA
Dele 당신을 응원합니다.
Chelsea fan here, mad respect g you ain’t alone 💙
Anyone here says they was judging delle or giving him hater online throughout his days after Tottenham are talking shite. I done it myself but hearing the reasons and situations you never think of them as your so involved in football and don’t think about their lives. Respect Delle hope you recover well ⚒
U jus need to do things to make u feel relieve and get over and prepare and work hard for something you thinks correctly positive
Nice
Dele Alli is a HERO for this. Cheers to him and The Overlap
Wow! What an inspiration to all and a solid bloke. Gary Neville conducted the interview with a genuine care. I’m sure this will help many people.
dele ali to liverpool
I’ve got empathy with him , However the man is wealthy and can afford to sort his issues out in a rehab clinic, where as the rest of us just have to suck it up and get in with life because we have responsibilities and people who rely on us , we don’t have the luxury of putting ourselves first!
What an incredibly courageous and strong man!!
You’re a such an inspiration and weroot for you 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Excellent informative video
We need the other side of the story
good
What shoes he has on
He deserves peace. What a brave interview. I loved him when he was at Spurs and I love him even more now. I have no words for this. What a beautiful human being.
Hai tuan (dele alli)
Saya sebagai penggemar Tottenham Hotspur sangat merasakan penurunan performa anda setelah anda mengganti nama di Jersey anda
Saat Jersey anda masih bertuliskan ALLI anda sangat bagus dan bermain lepas tanpa beban
Tapi setelah anda mengganti nama di Jersey anda menjadi DELE performa anda turun drastis
saya harap anda harus mengganti nama di Jersey anda menggunakan nama ALLI kembali tuan
Terimakasih
델레 알리! 👍 🍀
Dele you should look into valerian products for good sleep. All natural, no dependence. You're a warrior and we appreciate you telling your story.
Very interesting character
Good
Woow
So good of you to come out boldly and said what you'd been through, Dele my Naija brother. You're gonna come back good baba.
3 weeks out of rehab and he's injured
What's he been doing to get injured "sitting in rehab"
What happened to him didn't effect him playing well previously
This is all self pity
Dele, I rate you as a footballer, but as a human being you are off the charts 💯 Gary Neville the way you handled this interview makes me so proud to be a United Fan! 💯
💙💙
Arsenal fan, he is so brave for doing this interview and I am floored hearing what he went through. All the best for him in life, I hope he can move on from this and continue to grow to be an incredible person inside and out
"You never know how strong you are… until being strong is the only choice you have."
– Cayla Mills
Well done for speaking out it takes a lot of courage. You will help so many people. You should be so proud of yourself ❤️
So sad that Gary is highlighting the harm that is caused by what the media wrongfully negatively portray
Whilst at the same time he's the guy who still hasn't apologized for bashing Bruno and saying he wanted to come off the pitch
Hypocritical imo
He's just crying mental health, like Jadon Sancho, to get public sympathy to buy them more time grifting a living from professional football. I'd have more respect for these players if they did this when they were on top of their game.
It must have been Benzos Dele was taking. That's the only sleeping tablet you would have to go to rehab for. The withdrawal is just as bad as heroin. I feel your pain Dele
I smoke and drink every night before a game 💪💪💪💪
You can never know what a person has gone through in life! I am glad that he’s a survivor of such a nightmare at a early age!
Nice
I'm trying to imagine where this lad would have ended up without football to be honest. His adopted family are the heroes in all of this though, they gave him safety and love and that gave him strength to carry on knowing that there was more to life than what he had. His molestation experienced clearly pains him deeply as he still uses that laugh as a defense mechanism and a screen. I an adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse and you neevr forget it, you just learn to deal with it and as long as you can do that you have a chance of living a normal life.
I believed alot of the stuff the press write about him, God I hate it when I do that. If nothing else this interview will get the baying crowds of his back and maybe if we're lucky we'll see the old Dele again on a Saturday afternoon.
Im rooting for you bro.. Hope u rediscover the bright and ensational Dele
Stop lying on your family(Father) Dele!!! Though they don’t want anything from you just let the man be!!! He tried to bridge the relationship and shut it down now you’re everywhere talking about him, the man that tried everything to make sure you’re successful in life. Leave the man alone!
❤
amazing young man, to succeed after a hard upbringing….at 7 years old, I didn't have a time to be in, and had a key to let myself in…fuck, my son wasnt out of my sight at that age