Jesse Lingard of Nottingham Forest says he turned to alcohol “to try and take the pain away” while dealing with his career at Manchester United.
Lingard, 30, joined the club at the age of seven and made over 230 senior appearances before joining Forest in July 2022.
He discussed the “abuse” from fans and his treatment at Old Trafford on The Diary Of A CEO podcast.
“I needed something to take the edge off,” he explained.
“And put me at ease somehow. I was having a nightcap before going to bed.
“I look back now and wonder, ‘What was I doing?'” I was attempting to forget what was happening. But it only makes matters worse.”
The England international also discussed his mother’s battle with depression, which forced him to care for his younger siblings Jasper and Daisy-Boo when she was admitted to the hospital for treatment in 2019.
“Her depression was so severe that she couldn’t really cope any longer, and she needed to get away and get help,” he added.
“But leaving me with my little sister who was 11 at the time, and my little brother who was 15, for me, I was still going through my own things as well.
“As a result, I wasn’t the big brother they desired at the time. I just wasn’t mentally prepared.”
The attacking midfielder claimed he told then-Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer about the abuse from fans and personal issues he was dealing with. He stated that Solskjaer “aided” him during a difficult period in his career.