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Royston Drenthe has admitted Everton manager David Moyes saved him from ending up in the gutter.

Despite the fact that Moyes sent the ex-Real Madrid star packing, Drenthe is grateful for the Scot’s hard words.

“It was David Moyes who has opened my eyes," said 25-year-old Drenthe, who moved to Alania Vladikavkaz, 1200 miles south of Moscow.

“I am fighting for my last chance in life and in football. I have just lost a stone in weight.

“I can only say that Moyes was right in every way. I was not living like a professional player in Liverpool.

“I can try and come up with all sorts of excuses, but that is not fair on anyone. I look in the mirror and I have to admit that I had to stop living the way I did. All players love to go out and hit the town. But I had no discipline at all. I hit rock bottom.

“I was close to ending up on the street again where I once was before I ­became a footballer.’’

Drenthe was caught on camera breaking into Everton’s training ground with women. He also turned up for training smelling of booze.

Drenthe said: “I was living in a ­different world. And I realise I have ruined it all myself.

“I used to confront David Moyes, thinking I had the right to talk to him like that. But in hindsight, he was so right about me most times.

“Now I can’t believe I blew it at ­Everton. It is one of the most fantastic clubs in the Premier League.

“My ­attitude and poor mentality are the reasons I ruined my career there.’’