adminBy Daysgazette | November 12, 2026
Dejan Kulusevski has finally returned to the football pitch after an ordeal that stretched beyond 500 days, but his comeback has been accompanied by explosive revelations that cast a harsh light on his treatment behind the scenes at Tottenham Hotspur.
In a candid interview with Swedish outlet Fotbollskanalen, the 26-year-old winger has publicly expressed his disappointment with certain individuals at the North London club, revealing that he was forced to reject a drastic surgical proposal and felt a distinct lack of belief from within his own camp during his darkest moments.
The Knee Transplant Revelation
The most startling disclosure from Kulusevski concerns the extreme measures discussed during his rehabilitation. The Swedish international disclosed that he spent the summer consulting with external doctors about a procedure that would have fundamentally altered his career and life.
“I spent the whole summer talking to other doctors about having another operation. It would have been a knee transplant. I would have exchanged my knee for someone else’s,” Kulusevski stated . “I said no. If I’m in pain when I play, then I’ll have to play with pain.”
According to reports, the proposed transplant carried a recovery timeline of an additional 18 months, and the player was warned that no professional athlete had previously returned from such a procedure . The fact that such an extreme option was seriously considered underscores the severity of the cartilage damage that kept him out of action for 526 days .
“Disappointed in People”
While Kulusevski ultimately made his return in a 3-1 victory over Coventry City last month, the emotional scars of his rehabilitation appear to linger. His comments suggest that the skepticism regarding his ability to recover was not limited to external observers, but emanated from within Tottenham itself.
“There were many who didn’t believe it, many were skeptical. Even at the club,” Kulusevski told reporters . “I’ve been disappointed in people during this period, but at the same time I have to forgive everything.”
The winger, who joined Spurs permanently in 2023, struck a pragmatic but pointed tone regarding the nature of the industry. “Sometimes you wish you’d received more help and so on. But at the same time, I understand we’re all part of a business” .
A Medical Department Under Fire
These comments add significant fuel to the growing scrutiny surrounding Tottenham’s medical and performance departments. The club has faced criticism over the past two seasons regarding a spate of long-term injuries.
During Kulusevski’s absence, Tottenham also had to cope without key players like James Maddison, Wilson Odobert, and Xavi Simons due to serious knee issues . The club reportedly overhauled its medical department over the summer, a move that now appears reactive rather than proactive in light of Kulusevski’s testimony .
Furthermore, the situation echoes previous friction, notably when former captain Cristian Romero sought treatment away from the club, seemingly indicating a broader pattern of trust issues between players and the medical staff .
Moving Forward with Sweden
Despite the frustration, Kulusevski insists he has moved on and holds no ill will toward the club as a whole. “I’ve moved on and I love being at the club. I received a really good welcome when I came back” .
The midfielder is now focused on reintegrating into the Sweden national team under Graham Potter. He is expected to feature in the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Poland, though his workload will be carefully managed, with plans for approximately 30 minutes per game .
For Tottenham and manager Roberto De Zerbi, the return of a fully fit Kulusevski is a major boost. However, the player’s testimony serves as a stark reminder of the human cost behind the club’s recent injury crisis and raises uncomfortable questions about the level of support provided to players during their most vulnerable periods.
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