ACE'S WOE
I’m an alcoholic who knocked at gates of hell – I lost my dignity and respect of my children, says Europa League champ
Ace revealed three ex-Prem stars stuck by him in troubled times
EUROPA LEAGUE winner Fredy Guarin has revealed alcohol addiction has wrecked his career.
The Colombia midfielder captained Inter Milan, and won ten major trophies with Porto.
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Guarin amassed three Primeira Liga titles and the Europa League crown with the Portuguese side.
Capped 57 times, he also played for Saint Etienne and won a Chinese FA Cup with Shanghai Shenhua.
But the 37-year-old has now opened up on his battle with booze over the past few years - which saw him arrested after attacking his own parents.
He also thanked former Premier League stars David Ospina, Radamel Falcao and James Rodriguez for standing by him when other pals turned their backs.
Guarin told Semana magazine: "I am a 100 per cent alcoholic, and I admit it. I am an addict, on my way to recovery.
"At a point in my career I let myself become distracted, and I got hooked on drink. I made lots of mistakes and took wrong decisions.
"I hurt so many people, including family and friends. I've been immortalised on social media in ugly situations because of alcohol.
"I hit rock bottom in 2021 when I left [Colombian club] Millonarios, because my dependence on drink became serious. I lost my dignity and the respect of my children.
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"I could no longer continue like this, and had to seek professional help.
"I have knocked at the gates of hell. I now know which is the right path and which is the wrong one.
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"My two fears are death and ending up in prison. But without knowing it, I was living in a condemned cell.
"When I was drunk I did not know the risks I was taking.
"I have lost so many friends, but others have remained by my side.
"Now I know who my true friends are, those who want to see me back in good health.
"Falcao [ex-Manchester United and Chelsea], James Rodriguez [formerly of Everton], Ospina [ex-Arsenal keeper] and other national teammates were all there for me in tough times.
"Others disappeared without a word. They were not true friends."
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