Dele Alli reveals Harry Kane and Eric Dier intervened and Everton stood by him through rehab for sleeping pill addiction

Dele Alli has revealed he became addicted to sleeping pills in a brave and honest interview about traumatic events in his life.

The Everton star has opened up on a harrowing childhood which led to difficulties in his personal and professional life.

Alli came clean on his recent battle with addictionCredit: The Overlap

During an emotional chat with Gary Neville, the 27-year-old opened up on checking into rehab for six weeks after returning from his loan spell at Besiktas.

“I got addicted to sleeping tablets, it’s a problem not only I have. It’s going around more than people realise in football,” the ex-Tottenham midfielder told Neville on The Overlap.

“Now is probably the right time to tell people. It’s tough to talk about it as it’s quite recent and something I’ve hid for a long time and I’m scared to talk about.

“When I came back from Turkey, I came back and found out I needed an operation.

Dele Alli makes a point to Sean Dyche on return to Everton for pre-season training

Dele Alli and Gary Neville break down in tears as Everton man reveals childhood trauma

“I was in a bad place mentally. I decided to go to a modern rehab facility 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 was relying on things that were doing me harm. I was waking up every day, winning the fight going into training every day smiling – willing to show I was happy.”

He continued: “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 began.

Neville did his best to comfort the Everton midfielderCredit: The Overlap

Neville struggled to hold back the tears after learning of Alli's struggles — Neville struggled to hold back the tears after learning of Alli’s strugglesCredit: The Overlap

“So I went there for six weeks. Everton were amazing and supported I will be grateful to them for ever. For them to be so honest and understanding I couldn’t ask for anything more during a time I was making the biggest decision of my life – doing something I was scared to do. I’m happy I’ve done it.

“There is a stigma around it and it’s something people don’t want to do. Going into rehab is scary but I could never have imagined how much I would get from it.

“I was in a bad place. A lot happened to me when I was younger that I couldn’t understand and I was doing stupid things that I blame myself for.

“Going there and learning about it, it was never really under my control.

“Understanding, learning it has helped. I let go of some bad feelings I was holding which was slowing me down.”

Alli spoke of the strong bond he shared with teammates during his time at Tottenham, claiming that two of the club’s more senior players were not afraid to pull him in line if circumstances required it.

“We had quite a youngish team but there were people who I have a lot of respect for and were very good friends,” Alli explained.

“I don’t think any of them really knew what I was doing so I’d hide it from them, I wouldn’t be honest with them.

Alli spoke of his close friendship with DierCredit: Tottenham Hotspur

“The likes of Eric Dier, I think he’s a great friend and you realise who your real friends are – people that don’t just say yes.

“People like Eric, Harry [Kane], Sonny [Heung-min Son] Ben [Davies]. There were a lot of players that didn’t approve of what I was doing if they knew about it and they weren’t afraid to tell me.