PAUL GASCOIGNE has admitted a booze relapse over Christmas despite forking out £20,000 on getting anti-alcohol pellets sewn into his body.
The ex-England ace revealed that he jetted to Australia for the operation in 2018 after battling booze for decades.
Paul Gascoigne was clearly emotional as he spoke about his Christmas relapseCredit: refer to caption.
He opened up this morning to GMB hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna ReidCredit: Rex Features
Alcoholic Gazza – who described himself as a ‘connoisseur of rehabs’ – has blown his £20 million fortune during his booze hell.
But he is adamant he’s back on track after the pellet implants despite a relapse over Christmas.
The former Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle hero became emotional as he spoke of his ordeal on Good Morning Britain.
He told hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid this morning: “I had a relapse at Christmas, which I was gutted [about], but I’ve just got back on the straight and narrow again.
“I’m happy in life, I really am, especially after what I went through last year. When I feel down, I go out on the high street and people are great to me.
“I’ve never turned down a selfie or autograph in my life.
“If I need picking up I just walk down the high street and sit with a tramp and buy him a sandwich.”
Tragedy has stalked Gascoigne, who admits he’s been single for 20 years after his 1998 divorce from then-wife Sheryl, but insists he’s happy in his own company.
Gascoigne’s dad John took the troubled star to be sectioned in 2008 after he started taking cocaine as well as drinking.
‘PEOPLE ARE GREAT TO ME’
His nephew, Jay Kerrigan, 22, died in 2016 and in 2018, his father died aged 72.
Gazza was also arrested in 2018 for an alleged sexual assault by kissing a woman on a train.
And speaking of the anti-booze implants – which make you vomit if you drink too much – he said: “There’s something with the endorphins in your brain, not that I’ve got a brain.
“I can socialise but if I touch spirits or drugs I’ll just automatically be sick.
“So I have a couple of beers, couple of glasses of wine, but nothing more than that. It lasts for nine months and then they dissolve.”
The Rangers legend also spoke of being on the lookout for love after being cleared of sexual assault in October.
He said: “Last year was a bad year, it wasn’t good going through all that.
“And rightly so, I was found not guilty so I was pleased about that.”
Piers Morgan went on to ask him if he understood why Prince Harry has stepped down from being a senior royal.
‘THE ONLY WAY IS DOWN’
Gazza said: “It’s a great feeling becoming famous, but once you become famous, the standards are good and the only way is down, you know.
“When I played for England in London I was getting hounded. I thought I’d go to Italy and it was even worse.
“You might be privileged but you can’t have everything your own way.
“When you’re famous like the person I am you’ve gotta take the good with the bad.”
Since he retired, Paul – affectionately known as Gazza – and his public struggle with addiction has made front-page news.
Gazza was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2001, and has also suffered with obsessive compulsive disorder, depression and bulimia.
The former Spurs midfielder was cleared of sexual assault last year at Teesside crown court, saying afterwards: “To have a sexual allegation for over 12 months has been tough.”
He told The Mirror: “I was panicking. If I ended up on the sex offender register, my life would have been finished. I’m glad that we went to the jury and I have turned my life around.
“For a year, I felt like I could do nothing, I was really stressed out about it. But I received great support.”
But as a talented player, he also adorned the back pages, and has been described as the most naturally-gifted English footballer of his generation.
Paul Gascoigne, 52, revealed he’s spent £20,000 getting anti-booze pellets sewn into his stomachCredit: AP:Associated Press
The ex-England ace jetted to Australia for the operation in 2018Credit: Getty – Contributor
Gazza insists he has no regrets despite blowing his £20 million fortuneCredit: Getty – Contributor
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
