Former model Linda Lusardi says she fears getting a phone call saying her close friend Paul Gascoigne has died. Linda said the troubled
Football legend reminds her of the late George Best . She became
Friends with Gazza when he signed for Spurs as a teenager and moved in opposite her and her Spurs fan husband. Linda, 64, said: “He used to come over with pies his mum had made that he’d bought back from Newcastle, and he quite often spent an evening sitting watching the telly with us. “He was quite lonely to begin with. He was a very vulnerable character. He wouldn’t sleep with the light off.” Paul Gascoigne WINS Scared of the Dark as he says show made him a better person Gazza was a lonely soul even as a young man ( Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock) So Linda says she was surprised when Gazza this year not only took part in but won Channel 4 ’s Scared of the Dark, in which celebs have to live in darkness. Gazza, now 55, went on to score 10 goals in his 57 games for
England and played for clubs including Rangers and Lazio. But he has struggled with alcoholism – as did George Best, who Linda also knew around the same time and who died aged 59 in 2005. Former model Linda has concerns for the football icon ( Image: Vianney Le Caer/REX/Shutterstock) Linda told the
British Scandal podcast: : “I think for the moment he’s OK, but he’s the first person to say himself that he struggles to keep away from the alcohol. “I do fear for him because there may come a day when you’re getting that phone call that he’s just overdone it. He does remind me of George Best.” Gazza reminds Linda of George Best ( Image: Mirrorpix) * British Scandal: Gazza, from Wondery, is available on all major podcast providers. Read More Paul Gascoigne banned from Newcastle chemists after using Calpol to fuel addictions Read More Why Paul Gascoigne isn't in ITV's Hunt for Raoul Moat despite turning up with lager Read More Paul Gascoigne claims Chris Eubank 'was so nice to my face but mocked me behind back' Read More Paul Gascoigne tells stunned celebs he found Margaret Thatcher 'sexually arousing' Read More Ex-England star hails "whirlwind" Paul Gascoigne and details infamous
World Cup incident