Latest news with #DeleAlli
Daily Mirror
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Soaring numbers of Brits hooked on painkillers fuelled by online cowboys
Statistics from a support group show the number of prescription drug addicts in the UK has doubled in the past five years with a Sunday Mirror investigation finding pills are cheap and easy to come by A Sunday Mirror investigation reveals a host of deadly prescription-only tablets available for the price of a can of fizzy drink. And a drug charity's call for a crackdown on illegal sellers is being backed by Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who warns that Britain is a nation in danger of 'sleepwalking into addiction'. Support group WithYou says the number of prescription drug addicts it helps has doubled in five years. Celebrities who have become hooked include England footballer Dele Alli and EastEnders star Danny Dyer. Alli, 29, told how a doctor initially prescribed him zopiclone, known as Z, for insomnia – but he ended up sourcing them 'from outside the game' as his addiction worsened and he spent six weeks in rehab. Dyer, 47, opened up on Desert Island Discs about being 'off his nut' on Valium while on EastEnders. Neither star revealed how they sourced their pills but for many this means clicking on websites which are tapping into the addiction market and selling prescription drugs with no medical supervision. Our investigation found highly addictive pills available online for as little as £1.29 a pill. They were delivered to our door in 24 hours via tracked Royal Mail delivery with no prescription, ID, age checks or health advice. Some sellers use encrypted messaging to cover their tracks. One even pretends to be an online fashion store to put authorities off the scent. One site bragged: 'We are dedicated to enhancing your wellbeing by providing trusted solutions for sleep disorders, anxiety, and pain management.' It even claimed to 'empower individuals to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives'. Within minutes we could order Valium, zopiclone, nitrazepam – known as moggies – and opioids like codeine and tramadol. One site says it ships from inside the UK and guarantees next-day delivery. But rather than paying via the website, we were emailed an order number and UK mobile number and told to message the code via WhatsApp. Immediately an encrypted payment link was sent, which directed us to an online invoice listing not drugs but clothing for the same value. A pack of Valium we ordered for £29.78 was instead invoiced as 'Diaz Wool Raydon' next to a picture of a woollen cardigan. Asked whether the garments were also available for purchase, it replied on WhatsApp: 'Please ignore, we have to change the product on the payment portal due to the nature of the product.' Within minutes we were sent a Royal Mail tracking link by email. Next morning the drugs appeared in an unmarked envelope in blister packs. The outer packaging with dosing and safety information had been removed. A GP told us the packaging, wording and branding on the blister packs as well as the appearance of the pills were identical to the ones she routinely prescribes. The doctor warned that such drugs could be counterfeit, causing further health problems. Another site was based in the UK but shipped zopiclone from India. An email from it lied: 'As part of our service, we take care of the entire prescription process on your behalf. This is not a request for approval – it is a seamless part of what we do to ensure you receive your order without delay or complication.' This time the package arrived after four days, with stamps on the envelope showing it came through customs. Disturbingly in this case, the email receipt even came with suggestions for four other drugs we 'might like' to try, including Valium. Our findings were described as 'very concerning' by Robin Pollard, head of policy at WithYou. Selling such drugs without a prescription can lead to a seven-year jail term – and the charity wants the law enforced. Mr Pollard said: 'Drug testing services have shown that drugs bought online from unregulated sources are unpredictable and can be cut with other substances. These can have variable strength, toxicity and effects. Swift Government action against illicit sellers is vital to save lives.' His words were echoed by Health and Social Care Secretary Mr Streeting, who said: 'Regulators have my full support to crack down on any services putting people in danger. Without the correct supervision, patients can be at risk of sleep-walking into addiction. Drugs which can be lethal must only be taken under medical supervision. 'Anyone suffering with pain, disordered sleep or mental health problems should seek help from a GP as a first port of call, and only take medications as advised.' Statistics from WithYou show they processed nearly double the number of referrals from patients addicted to prescription drugs last year compared with 2020. And if referral rates for the first quarter of 2025 continue, that number is set to double again by the end of the year. The charity says that shutting down illicit sellers is not enough because legitimate prescription painkillers are a big problem. One of their clients, Barry Jonas, 35, told us he was prescribed highly addictive codeine tablets 100 times before he was finally diagnosed with a rare form of arthritis. He said: 'I was first prescribed the drugs for extreme pain in my hips when I was only 14 or 15. They didn't know what was wrong with me but I was in agony so they just kept on prescribing it while they ran various tests for things that always came back negative. 'It was like they didn't know what else to do so they just kept on prescribing it and as I grew older I needed more to deal with the pain. 'By the time I was 19 I was an addict and I desperately wanted help but I was ashamed. Barry is now being treated by WithYou which wants more research into the crisis. There has been no official report into this type of addiction in the UK since 2018 when Public Health England looked into it. They revealed a quarter of adults were prescribed drugs putting them at risk of dependency every year – but it made no mention of the unlicensed trade or how many patients went on to develop addictions. Mr Pollard added: 'The Government must invest in our health services to ensure they can support safe prescribing practices. We also need easy access to drug testing services. 'There's a perception that people need to hit rock bottom before accessing support but this isn't true. Anyone concerned about medication bought online should reach out for help.' If you're concerned for yourself or a loved one the WithYou webchat at offers free, confidential, non-judgmental advice from expert recovery workers.
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Jordan Pickford admits the pressure is on Everton to sign off in style at Goodison Park - as he reflects on his memories of the famous old ground
Two of Jordan Pickford 's children will be mascots at Goodison Park on Sunday, clear evidence that facing Southampton isn't just a normal game for the England No 1 or anyone else at Everton. While Pickford will stick to his normal routine, and wave to the same fan in the Gwladys Street End in his warm-up, he is fired up for his 160th and last appearance at the stadium, with the club going to a new home next season. 'We'll be playing for the memory of winning the last home game at Goodison,' he acknowledges. 'So there will probably be added pressure.' Even so, it'll be hard to keep flashbacks at bay. For Pickford, that includes two dramatic escapes from relegation. 'The stand-out is probably the Palace game (in 2022),' he says. 'We had to win to stay up because we had Arsenal away (in their final game). To get the result after going 2-0 down by scoring three in the second half was incredible. Dele (Alli) came on and changed the game. ' Arsene Wenger said Goodison can be hard for the opposition because of the noise. It definitely played a part that night. Once we got the first goal, the fans had lift-off. After 3-2, it was just a blur! 'Compared to that, I felt pretty chilled against Bournemouth the following year. It was like, we did it before, we might as well do it again! We controlled the game and Duke (Abdoulaye Doucoure) got the winner.' Pickford, 31, has been at Everton since 2017 and stayed loyal despite mixing with team-mates at international level who play in the Champions League and win trophies. Evertonians have a chant about him being 'dynamite' and at Fulham last weekend, he threw himself around despite hurting his shoulder. 'It was killing me. I thought my golf season was over!' he quips. The midday kick-off against Saints will be emotional, with dozens of former Everton players invited back for the occasion and fans set to line the streets to greet the team coach. After 30 years without silverware, Everton hope to flourish in their new 53,000-capacity ground at Bramley-Moore dock. 'It's going to be sad leaving Goodison but we are moving to one of the best stadiums I've seen,' adds Pickford. First, though, there is a special day to enjoy, shared with his kids. 'It's going to be a good memory. I'm sure I'll be looking back on it in 30 years' time when I'm a grandad!'
The Sun
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
‘Most beautiful woman' – Dele Alli's girlfriend Cindy sets pulses racing in barely-there bikini leaving fans stunned
DELE ALLI's recent move to Como has sparked his relationship with Cindy Kimberly back into the spotlight. Dele, who was signed by the Italian club in January following a successful trial, has only played eight minutes with the Cesc Fabregas-led side - but has seen his relationship with Cindy blossom. 9 9 9 9 The pair have been dating since June 2022. Cindy, who currently works as a model and influencer and is signed to Uno models, has sent fans of her work into a frenzy with her recent Instagram post. The 26-year-old with Spanish-Indonesian descent posed in a bikini as she promoted her new line of swimwear for her clothing brand LOBAwoman - which is the Spanish term for she-wolf. Cindy, who boasts a whopping 7.1MILLION followers on Instagram, donned a brown set for a collection of photos. "Our first swim comes out tuesday 🐚 @lobawoman," she captioned the reel of six-snaps. Fans seemed to be in awe of the release as they they flooded to the comments section to shower her with compliments. One wrote: "Girlll I'm so proud of u over 5 years I have followed u and see u grow!!!" Another said: "She's just so beautiful I wanna be you when I grow up gosh. A third wrote: "You always make my day." Another posted: "My jaw dropped to oblivion." And a fifth shared: "What a preciousness pleaseeeee." 9 9 9 9 Cindy's photos amassed over 92,000 likes in the space of a couple of hours. The LOBAwoman brand has grown since it debuted exclusively online at on May 2023, with the Instagram account growing to over 73k thanks to Cindy's reach. The multi-tasked individual has been seen featured alongside Dele at Como games also stunning on the Italian shores.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dele Alli must wait for new Como chance as Fabregas mentions Barcelona defence
Dele Alli must wait for new Como chance as Fabregas mentions Barcelona defence Cesc Fabregas insists that Dele Alli needs to 'keep working' before being given a new chance at Como and discusses his team's defensive approach: 'We can't do what Barcelona are doing.' The Spanish coach held a press conference on Friday on the eve of a Serie A match against Parma. Advertisement Como officially secured survival last week after a 1-0 win over Genoa at the Stadio Sinigaglia, so Fabregas was asked if he'll rotate his squad and whether he'd start or give some playing time to Dele Alli. Dele Alli must wait for new Como chance MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 15: Referee Matteo Marchetti shows the yellow card to Dele Alli of Como 1907 during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Como 1907 at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 15, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by) 'I play those who train well and earn a spot during the week. Dele Alli needs to keep working. He had his chance in Milan, but was sent off and then got injured,' he replied via TMW. 'When the right time comes, it just comes. Douvikas has trained well, and everyone is available except Sergi Roberto and Dossena.' Alli made his Serie A debut against Milan in March but received a straight red card after just 10 minutes. Advertisement 'Seeing the team give up after securing survival would hurt me.' Fabregas continued. 'I want to see the same grit and determination. It would be painful to witness a mental collapse. This is why the Parma game is important, I want to see the same attitude we've had in recent games. 'They must not feel satisfied. We have to perform for the team, the fans, and the club.' Como have secured four consecutive wins in Serie A and are unbeaten in the last five. The Azzurri have conceded 48 goals in 34 Serie A matches, but have kept three consecutive clean sheets. 'I'm happy with our defensive phase; we've improved a lot in this aspect,' said the former midfielder. Fabregas mentions Barcelona's defence BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 30: Jules Kounde of FC Barcelona is challenged by Nicolo Barella of FC Internazionale during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between FC Barcelona and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on April 30, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by) Fabregas then added, smiling: 'We can't do what Barcelona are doing, but defensively, we've come a long way, and I always want to see a high line.' Advertisement Lastly, as reported by SempreMilan, Fabregas spoke about his future as he continues to be linked with Roma and Milan. 'Journalists always know a lot more than I. I am very calm, and I repeat, as I said last week, I cannot say anything about anything because nothing has happened. Meanwhile, I continue to work with the same energy and strength as always. 'There's nothing new, if there's any news, I'll tell you right away. But at the moment, there is nothing.'
Daily Mail
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Cesc Fabregas reveals why Dele Alli has not featured for Como since his nightmare debut - and what the ex-Tottenham star must do to be given another chance
Cesc Fabregas has told Dele Alli to 'keep working' for his next chance at Como after his nightmare debut. In his press conference on Friday, Fabregas pointedly declared that he gives opportunities to those who 'train well and earn a spot during the week', amid an impressive run of form for the monied Italian minnows now comfortably sitting in mid-table. Alli was afforded the chance to train with the Serie A club before officially joining their ranks in January. He made his first professional appearance in more than two years against AC Milan in March. But his return ended after only 10 minutes as Como went on to lose 2-1 to the Rossoneri. It is the only defeat Fabregas' men have suffered in their last seven matches. 'I play those who train well and earn a spot during the week,' Fabregas told reporters ahead of their clash with Parma. 'Dele Alli needs to keep working. He had his chance in Milan, but was sent off and then got injured. 'When the right time comes, it just comes. [Anastasios] Douvikas has trained well, and everyone is available except Sergi Roberto and Dossena.' Before moving to Como, Alli spent spent two years with the Toffees, a tenure which included a loan spell with Turkish outfit Besiktas in 2022-23. In the last three seasons, he has made just 18 professional appearances, with his last before his Como outing coming in February 2023 during his loan spell with Besiktas. The midfielder revealed in early 2024 that he had been targeting a spot at the 2026 World Cup with England as he looks at an eventual return to international football. Alli previously starred as an England regular and played at Euro 2016 and the World Cup in Russia two years later, but hasn't featured since making his 37th international appearance six years ago. After his red card last month, the 29-year-old admitted his disastrous debut was 'not necessarily how I planned it', while remaining optimistic after making his comeback. He also revealed a hilarious text exchange with Milan midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek - who he was dismissed for fouling - to whom he told: 'Pic looks bad tho, I just tried to clip ur heel. When the ref went to var I didn't even know it was for me.' The former Chelsea midfielder responded: 'Bro I had no clue. I stayed down coz I was blowing.' Fabregas had little sympathy for him at the time, telling DAZN: 'Dele Alli is a player who can score goals. He perhaps didn't deserve this opportunity because he has only been working with us for two weeks and has a lot to improve. 'It is a grave mistake, one that we should not see from a player of his experience. 'It was a clear red card, there's nothing to be said about that, he left the team down to 10 men during a crucial moment when we were pushing for 2-2.
