AC Milan, three days after winning their 19th scudetto, announced that their Swedish star had undergone surgery on Wednesday at Jean-Mermoz hospital in Lyon, with an estimated recovery time of "seven to eight months".

"Arthroscopy had been scheduled for some time to definitively resolve the instability of the joint through reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament, with lateral reinforcement and repair of the meniscus," the club said.

The Swede had already had surgery on his left knee in June 2021, which caused him to miss the Euros with Sweden and disrupted his start to the season.

He has also suffered from Achilles tendons this season, missing many matches.

The announced downtime would take the former Paris-SG striker, who will celebrate his 41st birthday in early October, to a new long rehabilitation journey.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic standing in the middle of his teammates after the league title won by AC Milan, May 22, 2022 in Sassuolo Tiziana FABI AFP / Archives

This is undoubtedly the answer that "Ibra" was waiting for to decide whether or not to continue a career as a professional player that began more than 20 years ago.

Sunday, after having been taken, cigar in the mouth, his new medal of champion of Italy, eleven years after that already conquered with Milan in 2011, "Ibra" had confided that his decision "would depend" on certain elements on his physical condition , expected within "a few days".

"Afraid to Stop"

"For six months, I have suffered too much, physically and also for personal reasons", declared on Sky Sport the one who lost his friend and agent Mino Raiola at the end of April.

"I'm afraid to stop, but I have to do it as I want me," he added, assuring however that he would continue to play "if he feels good".

Zlatan Ibrahimovic during the celebration of the title of champion of AC Milan, May 22, 2022 in Sassuolo Tiziana FABI AFP / Archives

AC Milan, transfigured since the start of 2020 by the return of the star who has become a tutor for a young generation, has always indicated that he would let "Ibra" decide alone.

The club will offer him a new one-year contract without reluctance, with lower salary conditions, however, if he decides to extend his career, according to several Italian media.

Ibrahimovic, out of contract in June, has become much more than a player for AC Milan.

He has largely contributed, since his return, to instilling ambition in the Milan locker room, claiming that the Rossoneri should aim for the title.

But he also knew how to shake up and pull up his young partners, assuming when necessary the role of "bad cop" ("bad cop") as a counterpoint to coach Stefano Pioli, as when he had asked one day in the locker room: "Raise your hand, those who have already played in the Champions League..."

Go on a new league title (his twelfth, in four different countries) or come back again, as he did after another serious right knee injury at Manchester United in 2017?

This is the dilemma he will have to resolve.

Whatever its decision, AC Milan already knows that it must go in search of an attacker to replace it, at least until 2023.

© 2022 AFP