Tottenham defender Eric Dier could not hold back the tears as he talked about Dele Alli this week.
The attacking midfielder has been open about his struggles with substance abuse and mental illness.
Alli gave a recent interview to Gary Neville, where he outlined his issues over the years.
“I’m upset with myself and disappointed with myself that I didn’t do more,” said Spurs defender Dier to reporters.
“I was with him just a week before, when he was at my wedding.
“When he was in rehab – and I knew he was in rehab – I spoke to him a few times and messaged him, because I was having my wedding. I said to him, “I don’t know if you’re going to make it”, because obviously I knew what he was going through.
“And the first thing was that he was insulted that I’d asked him if he was going to be there. It was like it was unimaginable that he wasn’t going to be there even though everything he was going through. That’s the type of person he is, you know. Dele has a heart of gold, he really does.”
