Tottenham player reveals battle with depression before career revival in home country

Bryan Gil reveals battle with depression at Tottenham and how Europa League triumph at Sevilla helped him rediscover form

Although Tottenham’s season has been well below expectations, with the Lilywhites sitting in an alarming 16th place, and there is absolutely no hope of reaching the top ten, they have at least managed to pull it together for Europe, where the elusive two-goal advantage over Bodo/Glimt might serve them well. Injuries and poor form are talked about, but mental health issues in football are often overlooked. Bryan Bil recently revealed that he was borderline depressed during his time at Spurs, but experienced joy and harmony with Sevilla when he won the Europa League on loan.

Bryan Gil’s tenure at Tottenham has thus far been a waste of the €25 million transfer fee from Sevilla in 2021. He arrived from Spain with a glowing reputation, but he has rarely made an impact in North London, managing just 43 appearances, two assists, and zero goals most of Gil’s time at Spurs has been spent away on loan, firstly to Valencia, then back to Sevilla in 2023, and more recently, Girona.

His return to Sevilla in the January transfer window was pivotal as he was able to contribute to their Europa League Cup victory that season. While winning the trophy with his boyhood club a second time carries deep sentimental value for Gil, the experience pulled him from what has been a difficult time at Tottenham.

The return was much needed for the Spanish winger

Bryan Gil has opened up about his difficult spell at Tottenham, admitting that his early months in London left him disillusioned and struggling mentally. Speaking to Post United, the Spanish winger described his return to Sevilla as a turning point, calling it “a dream come true” after enduring what he believes was a near-depressive period during his first year with Spurs.

Gil explained that winning the Europa League with his boyhood club helped him rediscover his passion for football and overcome the lack of motivation that had built up. He hadn’t expected such a turnaround, especially as Sevilla were in a difficult position when he arrived.

Reflecting on his move to Tottenham, Gil acknowledged it may not have been the right step in his career. He revealed that Marseille were close to securing his signature before Nuno Espirito Santo convinced him to join Spurs. Now, at 24, the winger is actively seeking a fresh start and hopes to revive his career elsewhere.

The Winger explained about the tough situations he faced in the interview with Post-United

“For me, it was a dream come true to win a title with Sevilla after six months in London that weren’t very good, after that first year in which I think I practically fell into depression, to see that football rewards you, that you enjoy playing football, it was incredible.”

“I didn’t expect it at all because when I arrived, we were in a dangerous situation, and no one expected we would finish the year the way we did.”

“I had that lack of motivation from the first six months; I didn’t imagine that’s what being a footballer was all about. I only thought about enjoying myself and always playing, but you have a lot of rough patches that are important to overcome in order to mature.”

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It’s clear from his recent interviews that Bryan Gil has no desire to return to life in England, and a clean break would be in the best interest of both the player and Tottenham. Whether Girona make his loan move permanent or he finds a new home elsewhere in Spain, his future lies away from North London. As fans, the only fitting gesture now is to wish him the very best in the next chapter of his career.