CRISTIAN MONTANO locked himself in a rest room and was able to die.
He had with him all of the drugs he may get his arms on, a knife and a bottle of vodka.
Port Vale midfielder Cristian Montano displays on the darkest time in his lifeCredit score: David Pinegar
Cristian Montano is in his fourth season with the Valiants in League TwoCredit score: Ryan Browne
His mum María Cristina and girlfriend Jo-Hannah had simply informed him they had been coming out procuring – giving him an opportunity to do what he had contemplated for weeks.
His life – in his thoughts – was not price dwelling.
The winger, now 28, was dealing with a trial accused of rape and being investigated by police after getting caught up within the high-profile 2013 match-fixing scandal.
Oldham Athletic had sacked him together with his profession and popularity in tatters.
Montano was trolled and abused mercilessly on Twitter and believed the entire world – together with his household and family members – had been towards him.
He stated: “I used to be in a foul place and had turned to alcohol, ingesting closely.
“I had no earnings and began to run up money owed so budgeted myself to £10 a day. I’d purchase an inexpensive litre of vodka as a substitute of meals and was downing it straight out of the bottle.
“I believed it was serving to but it surely was ruining me.
“My moods had been in every single place. One minute I’d be aggressive, then I’d be down, then I’d be crying.
“And it was at that time I began pondering, ‘I have to disappear from this world.’”
Montano completely happy at dwelling together with his fiancee Jo-Hannah and youngest son NicoCredit score: David Pinegar
Montano’s two sons – Cristian Jnr and Nico – are the centre of his worldCredit score: Cristian Montano
Quick ahead seven years and the previous West Ham apprentice is having fun with life.
He’s enjoying for Port Vale in League Two, is fortunately dwelling together with his fiancée Jo-Hannah and their four-year-old son Nico in addition to having a detailed bond together with his eight-year-son Cristian Junior from a earlier relationship.
However his life was on the road when he was topic to a police investigation referring to allegations of spot-fixing and cash laundering.
The case towards the Colombian winger was ultimately dropped whereas a no verdict was returned towards him on the rape trial.
But on the morning of Sunday December 8 2013, the world was closing in on him.
He stated: “I used to be in North London with my mum, girlfriend and Cristian Jnr and woke as much as a great deal of Twitter messages on my telephone. I used to be everywhere in the information.
“I broke down and informed mum, ‘My life is over.’
“Everybody was getting the mistaken finish of the stick and I wished to inform everybody what truly occurred. I stated, ‘I used to be naive – however, promise you, mum, I’ve achieved nothing mistaken.’”
Lee Johnson was the Oldham supervisor on the time and Montano promised to fulfill him in Manchester that day to elucidate the complete story.
However Oldham director Barry Owen additionally contacted Montano and requested for the deal with he was staying at.
Inside moments, officers from the Nationwide Crime Company had been at his door and arrested him on suspicion of cash laundering and spot fixing and he was locked up in a cell.
Montano was arrested on suspicion of spot fixing and cash launderingCredit score: DAVID PINEGAR
Montano stated: “In the course of the police interview, there was a lot I wished to say however was instructed to say ‘no remark’ all through by my lawyer.
“When Jo-Hannah was ultimately allowed to take me dwelling, she was sobbing and informed me I had been sacked by Oldham too.
“They launched an announcement and I believed, ‘How may they try this with out giving me any alternative to elucidate what had occurred?
“Then so many individuals took to social media to inform me I had f****d my life and I ought to by no means play soccer once more. And if I did return, somebody ought to break my legs.
“I began to get paranoid and even thought my mum and girlfriend had been towards me.
“I used to be taking a look at as much as 20 years in jail sentences and felt I had failed my son.”
And it reached a crucial second that nearly ended tragically
Montano informed me: “My mum and Jo-Hannah headed to the outlets. I went into the toilet and began working a shower to make all the pieces look regular.
“As I used to be about to climb into the bathtub, I took a couple of drugs and drank some vodka. I used to be prepared to complete myself off.
“Then instantly my mum and associate burst by the door. My mum shook me whereas Jo-Hannah shouted, ‘What are you doing, Cris?’
“They’d sensed one thing was mistaken and fooled me into pondering they had been going to the outlets. They wished to see what I used to be going to do.
I used to be taking a look at as much as 20 years in jail sentences. As I used to be about to climb into the bathtub, I took a couple of drugs and drank some vodka. I used to be prepared to complete myself off.
Cristian Montano
“It was at that second I realised they had been right here for me. I rotated and stated, ‘I’m going to show my life round. I promise you.’”
And Montano has definitely achieved that. After the “no verdict” within the rape trial and the spot fixing and cash laundering case dropped, he has rebuilt his life and profession.
After a spell again in his native Colombia, he returned and helped Bristol Rovers to promotion and has been a agency favorite at Port Vale for the previous three years.
Montano has this yr began presenting a weekly podcast referred to as Males Unite – the place he and his buddy Daniel Biddulph chats to numerous company about psychological sickness.
Montano has launched his personal clothes model referred to as Champion Mindset
And he additionally has launched a garments model with three different friends, Joshua Fathi, Najee Fox and Winston George Williams, referred to as Champion Mindset – with 5 per cent of earnings going to psychological well being charities.
He stated: “Psychological sickness has turn into much more prevalent due to the coronavirus lockdowns. I used to be in a position to overcome my obstacles by speaking to individuals like my girlfriend and mum.
“If anybody is struggling on the market, I need them to know they’re now alone. Now we have a Fb web page referred to as Males Unite and likewise menunited4change on Fb and Instagram. Come and comply with and be a part of us. There’s loads of assist.”
In case you are affected by any of the problems raised on this article, please name the Samaritans free of charge on 16123.
