Paul Gascoigne has revealed that Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney were among a number of high-profile figures that covered the financial costs of the retired midfielder's treatment for alcoholism.
The 45-year-old spent five weeks at the reported £7,500-a-week Cottonwood clinic in Arizona in a bid to battle his long-standing addiction to booze.
While it had previously emerged that radio DJ Chris Evans and former England international Gary Lineker had chipped in, Gascoigne said during Channel 4's Alan Carr: Chatty Man that Premier League stars had also contributed.
"The support I got was fantastic," the Daily Star quotes Gascoigne as saying. "A few of them didn't want to be mentioned but it was Gary Lineker, Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Jack Wilshere, there was Sir Alan Sugar - I mean, wow, that man is so tight he only cries from one eye, so that was nice.
"I think Man United chipped in, there were loads of people. Whatever money was left was given to other funds. Chris Evans was fantastic, he got the ball rolling. From the bottom of my heart I am really grateful."
The England legend also revealed that he would "never say never" to drinking alcohol again.
Danielle Joynson
