Premier League winner fumes at fans for mocking him ‘grafting’ on building site
A Premier League winning footballer has slammed a troll after sharing a picture of himself working on a building site.
Former England star Danny Drinkwater retired early at the age of just 33 after a nightmare spell at Chelsea. The midfielder famously lifted the league title with Leicester in the Foxes’ incredible 2015-15 season, but then had a torrid time at Stamford Bridge.
And he ended up seeing out his playing days on loan at then Championship side Reading, before quitting the game when his Chelsea contract expired. Now 34, he hasn’t played since and has had an unfortunate run in other lines of work, first losing £782,000 from a failed restaurant business.
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Drinkwater, who made three appearances for his country, then bought a 70% share in Manchester nightclub, Firefly, which closed its doors last month after unsuccessful lease renewal negotiations with a landlord.
The former Manchester United youth player is now working on a building site and shared a photo from his day of labouring on Instagram. But Drinkwater revealed he received taunts from fans about the picture.
Do you think Danny Drinkwater is right to hit out at the trolls? Let us know in the comments section below
![Danny Drinkwater lifted the Premier League trophy with Leicester City](https://i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk/incoming/article33302929.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_Leicester-City-v-Everton-Premier-League.jpg)
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One cruel message read: “F***ing hell Danny you’ve hit rock bottom” But he didn’t take the abuse lying down.
Writing in a follow-up post, he said: “Some of these messages, behave. I love being on site grafting! It’s a choice.”
Drinkwater has previously told how he suffered with mental health issues after finding himself benched at Chelsea following a £35million transfer.
![Danny Drinkwater took a photo of himself working on a building site](https://i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk/incoming/article33302927.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/1_Screenshot-2024-07-23-at-075818.jpg)
(Image: dannydrinkwater)
![Drinkwater hit back at one troll](https://i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk/incoming/article33302926.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/1_drinkwater.jpg)
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He turned to alcohol and “getting with any bird that he could” – before crashing a Range Rover with two female passengers into a wall when drunk.
After playing a pivotal role in helping Leicester achieve the unimaginable, he made just 23 appearances for Chelsea across five years, which included several unsuccessful loan spells.
Speaking of his mental health struggles, Drinkwater said: “It was the darkest I’d felt. It was like I was drowning and had forgotten how to swim.
“Anyone who thinks earning good money will solve all of your problems is not true at all. Mental health is more important than physical. It was the darkest I’d ever felt.”