Dele Alli’s girlfriend Cindy Kimberly, 24, shows her support as the Everton star bravely opens up

Dele Alli’s girlfriend Cindy Kimberly has told the Everton star she is proud of him after he bravely opened up on the traumatic events that have happened in his life.

In a heartbreaking interview with Gary Neville, the former Spurs midfielder spoke out about his career struggles, battles with addiction and attending rehab on an episode of The Overlap.

The 27-year-old also revealed how he was molested at the age of six, began selling drugs at the age of eight, before being adopted four years later.

The England international was reduced to tears as he candidly spoke with Manchester United legend Neville, as he hoped that opening up could help others to deal with their trauma.

And following the airing of the interview, Alli’s girlfriend Kimberly, 24, took to social media to support him.

Dele Alli’s (right) girlfriend Cindy Kimberly (left) has showed her support to the Everton star after his heartbreaking interview with Gary Neville on the Overlap

Kimberly, 24, took to social media to tell Alli she is proud of him for opening up on his struggles

Alli revealed to Gary Neville (right) that he became addicted to sleeping pills, claims he was molested by a friend of his alcoholic mother and dealt drugs when he was eight

‘Proud of you,’ Kimberly wrote on Thursday morning.

Alli was heralded as a generational talent during his early days at Tottenham but his career has not turned out the way many predicted.

The England star emerged as one of the country’s best young talents despite a troubled childhood that saw him taken into foster care.

Speaking candidly to Neville, Alli has disclosed he spent a recent spell in a rehab facility as a result of becoming addicted to sleeping pills.

He said: ‘I got addicted to sleeping tablets, it’s a problem not only I have. It’s going around more than people realise in football.

‘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 (following a loan spell at Besiktas) I came back and found out I needed an operation.

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.

Gary Neville shared on Twitter that it was the most ’emotional and difficult yet inspiring’ conversation he had had on his podcast

‘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.

‘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.

‘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.

More to follow

Dele Alli was talking to The Overlap in partnership with Sky Bet