Swedish star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is facing an uncertain future as a professional soccer player. Just days after winning the Seria A title with AC Milan, Ibrahimovic underwent knee surgery that is expected to sideline him for eight months.
Milan confirmed the news via an official statement issued on Wednesday.
“The arthroscopy had been planned for a while to definitively resolve the joint’s instability through the reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament, with lateral reinforcement and meniscus reparation,” said the club in the statement. “The operation was a complete success, and the prognosis is estimated between 7 and 8 months.”
While Ibrahimovic successfully bounced back after similar spells on the sidelines in the past, things might be different this time. He will be 41 once he recovers from the injury, and it is unclear at that point whether he’ll have the motivation to attempt another comeback. Also, he will be out of contract, and Milan might not want to commit to an aging and injury-prone player, especially as they attempt to defend the Seria A trophy.
Ibrahimovic has had an illustrious career, one that can be matched only by a few in the history of soccer. He played for some of the world’s biggest clubs, including Juventus, Inter, Barcelona, PSG, and Manchester United, while winning more than 30 trophies. This includes five Seria A titles, one La Liga title, and four consecutive Ligue 1 titles.
