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Sexually Abused and Dealt Drugs as a Child, English Star’s Struggle Receives a 5-Word Response From David Beckham

Published 07/14/2023, 9:37 AM EDT

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Appearances are often deceitful, and a former Tottenham Hotspur superstar offers a significant example. Dele Alli was a world-beater when he started his soccer journey with Spurs. But things changed, and the rising star is now out of favor for his indiscipline. Meanwhile, Alli’s recent interview has profoundly moved everyone, including soccer icon, David Beckham.

The Everton star shared intimate and life-altering details while speaking to Manchester United legend, Gary Neville. His story even moved the host to tears at one point. Sexual abuse, alcoholic mom, smoking, and dealing drugs, Dele Alli made some shocking revelations. 

Delle Alli’s heart-wrenching interview moves David Beckham

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Inter Miami co-owner, Beckham, didn’t wait long to respond to Alli’s emotional trip on his life’s journey. He captioned his Instagram story“A powerful and inspiring conversation,” with a video of the interview with Gary Neville. Dele Alli was a guest on the Overlap YouTube channel of Neville on Thursday, where he shared about the difficult times of his childhood.

The Everton star said, “It’s not something I have spoken about that much, but there were a few incidents that give you an understanding. At six, I was molested by my mum’s friend who was at the house at lot; my mum was an alcoholic,” while speaking of the abuse incident. He also shed light on landing in Africa, smoking, and dealing drugs.

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“I was sent to Africa to learn discipline, and then I was sent back. Seven, I started smoking. Eight, I started dealing drugs. An older person told me that they wouldn’t stop a kid on a bike, so I rode around with my football, and then underneath I’d have the drugs – that was eight,” Alli said. 

But after all the hardships came a life-changing moment in his life. “Twelve, I was adopted – and from then, I was adopted by an amazing family. I couldn’t have asked for better people to do what they’d done for me. If God created people, it was them,” the former Spurs star said.

Dele Alli’s downfall in soccer

When Alli joined Spurs in 2015, he was an emerging star. Rising from the MK Dons Academy, he made a name for himself  for his innate talent. His early days at Spurs were fascinating. Then manager Mauricio Pochettino got the best out of him, with Alli becoming the PFA Young Player of the Year in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons.

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Touted as the next big thing in English soccer, Alli was living to the expectations. But came the year 2019, when Pochettino left Spurs. The inability to cope with new managers started his downfall. And the North-London club sold him. From being a superstar to the out-of-favor player, Alli has seen it all. The English star is working on his injury currently through rehab. Let’s hope this rehabilitation helps the Everton star to get his career back on track. 

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WATCH THIS STORY: Natalie Portman Narrates USWNT’s Latest World Cup Promo Video

Let us know your thoughts on the journey of Dele Alli that moved the likes of David Beckham. 

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Written by:

Nikhil Nibe

900Articles

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Nikhil is a soccer writer at EssentiallySports, having written over 450 articles that showcase his expertise and love for the beautiful game. With a passion for soccer that spans over two decades, Nikhil is well-versed in covering core sports articles. As a die-hard fan of Real Madrid, Nikhil understands the importance of team spirit and the unwavering support of fans in changing the course of a game.
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Edited by:

Jayant Chhabra