Emmanuel Adebayor reveals how close he came to committing suicide

Adebayor has revealed that the pressure of trying to make it at Metz saw him consider committing suicide. [Photo, Courtesy]

Former Premier League star Emmanuel Adebayor has shockingly revealed how close he came to taking his own life as a teenager.

Adebayor forged out a successful career in the English top-flight, first arriving with Arsenal in 2006 before going on to play for Manchester City, Tottenham and Crystal Palace.

Before joining the Gunners, Adebayor played in France having moved to Europe from Togo as a youngster in a bid to fulfil his dream of becoming a top footballer.

And for the first time, the 35-year-old striker has revealed that the pressure of trying to make it at Metz saw him consider committing suicide.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said: “I was 16. All I wanted to do was help my family out but they put huge pressure on me. I could not cope with it.

“When a family is poor, everyone is poor and there is huge solidarity. People will take a bullet for you. But when one makes it, it is like you owe everyone.

“At Metz, I was on maybe £3,000 a month. My family asked for a house worth £500,000. The club were tired of me because of my behaviour.

Adebayor celebrates his goal for Manchester City in front of the Arsenal fans in 2009. [Photo, Courtesy]

“I remember sitting on my bed one night and thinking ‘What am I doing here? Nobody’s happy with me, so what is the point of living?’

“There was a pharmacy below my apartment, I bought packet after packet of tablets.

“They did not want to sell it to me but I said it was for a charity in Togo. I made the preparations, I drank all the water. I was ready to go.

"Then I called my best friend at midnight. He told me not to rush, that I have things to live for.

"'You have the potential to change Africa. I thought 'You are a dream-seller and I am not buying any dreams right now.'

"But he took me out of the moment. I thought God must be keeping for something."