MusaDejan Kulusevski has opened up about the frightening reality of his lengthy battle with a serious knee injury, revealing that he genuinely feared his professional football career could be over.
The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder has admitted that his recovery became so difficult that he eventually sat down with his mother to prepare her for the possibility that he might never return to the pitch.
The Swedish international sustained the injury during Tottenham’s Premier League meeting with Crystal Palace in May 2025. What initially appeared to be a problem that could be resolved within a relatively short period eventually developed into a complicated recovery that kept him out of action for more than 17 months.
After undergoing surgery on his right patella shortly before Tottenham’s Europa League final against Manchester United, Kulusevski faced a frustrating spell away from the game before finally making his long-awaited comeback against Coventry City earlier this month.
Now, speaking in an emotional interview with Tottenham’s official SPURSPLAY platform, the 26-year-old has provided an insight into the psychological struggles, painful setbacks and moments of uncertainty that defined his rehabilitation.
When Tottenham first confirmed the injury, Kulusevski was immediately ruled out of the Europa League final in Bilbao. However, the situation proved considerably more complicated than initially expected, leaving the midfielder watching from the sidelines for an extended period.
His manager, Roberto De Zerbi, has since praised the determination and mental strength he displayed throughout the difficult experience, describing his response to the setback as an example for the entire Tottenham dressing room.
Speaking earlier this month, the Italian coach said:
“He’s an inspiration. He reacted very well, with character, with courage, with passion. We have to take inspiration from Deki. I said the same in the meeting to the players.
“He is an example for everyone, Dejan Kulusevski. Forget the player, but the example of how he reacted to the injury, the reaction to being unlucky, the character he showed this time, was an example, a reference for everyone.”
Dejan Kulusevski reveals he prepared his mother for possible retirement
During his emotional conversation with Tottenham, Kulusevski explained that one of the most painful moments of his recovery came when his teammates travelled to Bilbao to celebrate their Europa League triumph.
Although the midfielder made the journey to Spain to support the squad during the final against Manchester United, he was unable to participate fully in the celebrations because he was still dependent on crutches.
Tottenham’s 1-0 victory should have been a moment of enormous happiness for everyone associated with the club, but for Kulusevski, it was an incredibly difficult experience.
He was unable to climb onto the podium to collect his winner’s medal and eventually had to remain in Barcelona rather than return home alongside his celebrating teammates.
Reflecting on that emotional evening, the midfielder admitted:
“That was one of the hardest days in my life, I think. It was so beautiful to see all the people happy, but it was very difficult for me, going there with crutches, can’t walk. I couldn’t even take my medal because it was too slippery to go on that thing [the podium].”
While his teammates were celebrating one of the biggest achievements of their careers, Kulusevski was struggling with the possibility that he might never experience those moments on a football pitch again.
His recovery had become increasingly frustrating, and the uncertainty surrounding his knee eventually affected his confidence about returning to professional football.
The situation became so serious that the Tottenham star felt compelled to have an emotional conversation with his mother, warning her that his playing career might be approaching an unexpected end.
Revealing what he told her, Kulusevski said:
“I told my mother, I sat with her, and I told her ‘Listen, I don’t think this is going to work out’. I had to prepare her: ‘I don’t think I can play anymore’.”
The midfielder also provided further details about the injury he sustained against Crystal Palace, explaining that the initial discomfort did not immediately indicate how serious the damage had been.
However, subsequent scans revealed that he had suffered significant cartilage damage, with a piece of cartilage breaking away and moving to another part of his knee.
Explaining the nature of the problem, he added:
“I could feel that the knee was moving a little bit too much. I broke my cartilage, and the cartilage flew out and went to another part of the knee, and they can’t fix cartilage, so in the scan they could see that a part of my cartilage was gone.”
Kulusevski reveals the person who kept him going during his injury nightmare
Despite the uncertainty and difficult moments he experienced, Kulusevski was fortunate to have someone close to him providing constant encouragement throughout his rehabilitation.
The Tottenham midfielder singled out his wife, Eldina, for the incredible support she provided while he struggled to overcome the injury.
Alongside dealing with the emotional demands of his recovery, she also had to look after their children, making her contribution particularly important during those challenging months.
Kulusevski made it clear just how much he appreciated her sacrifices, describing her as his idol and the person who understood better than anyone what he had been experiencing.
He said:
“My wife is my idol. What she’s doing with the kids is amazing. She’s been the closest to seeing how it’s been with me because she’s been my partner. She’s the best.”
Another major turning point in his rehabilitation arrived when he travelled back to Sweden to continue working on his recovery.
With assistance from friends and a physiotherapist, Kulusevski gradually began noticing encouraging improvements in his knee.
He particularly remembered being surprised when exercises that had previously caused him considerable pain suddenly became much easier to complete.
Recalling that breakthrough, the midfielder explained:
“When I did the exercises, I said, ‘I don’t have pain. This hurt yesterday. Why is this not hurting today?’ I did the next exercise and said, ‘This is not hurting.’”
That development completely changed his outlook and gave him fresh hope that he could eventually return to the football pitch.
Rather than keeping the positive news to himself, Kulusevski immediately went to his wife to explain that something had finally changed and that he believed they were moving in the right direction.
He added:
“I went into the room to my wife. I told her, ‘It’s over. We’re going to do this.’ From one day to the next, it was just better. There was still pain, but it was different. Now I had control over my leg.”
Kulusevski’s Tottenham return takes on greater significance after emotional revelation
After spending more than 17 months away from competitive football, Kulusevski finally returned when he came off the bench during Tottenham’s 3-1 victory over Coventry City on October 19.
It was his first competitive appearance since the devastating injury against Crystal Palace in May 2025, marking the end of an incredibly frustrating chapter in his career.
The Tottenham supporters welcomed the Swedish international back with an enthusiastic reception, having waited patiently to see one of their most technically gifted attacking players return to action.
However, the midfielder’s latest revelations have made that comeback even more special.
For someone who once feared he might never play professional football again, simply stepping back onto the pitch represented a huge personal victory.
De Zerbi will now be focused on gradually restoring Kulusevski’s match fitness and ensuring he can return to regular first-team involvement without taking unnecessary risks with his recovery.
Tottenham have undoubtedly missed his creativity, attacking intelligence and ability to make a difference in the final third during his lengthy absence.
Nevertheless, there is little reason for the club to rush his return after everything he has endured.
His emotional admission has revealed just how close he believed he was to losing the career he had worked so hard to build. For Tottenham supporters, seeing Kulusevski back in action is therefore about much more than simply welcoming an injured player back into the squad.
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