Dejan Kulusevski has delivered a veiled critique of the way Tottenham Hotspur managed his injury layoff, revealing he was "disappointed in people" throughout the difficult period.
Kulusevski spent 526 days on the sidelines at Spurs due to a serious knee injury, sitting out the entire 2025/26 season before an emotional return in last month's 3-1 victory over Coventry City.
Speaking in the aftermath of that match, the Sweden international admitted the rehabilitation process had felt "impossible" at times, with the winger fearing his playing days might be behind him. Having initially been sidelined with what was described as a 'knock', Kulusevski's lengthy absence remained shrouded in mystery for the Spurs faithful.
Tottenham subsequently overhauled their medical department during the summer following serious knee injuries to Kulusevski, James Maddison, Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simmons.
Returning to the Sweden national squad for the first time in two years, Kulusevski spoke candidly to Swedish reporters, via The Mirror. "I have been disappointed in people during this period but at the same time I have to forgive everything," the midfielder said.
"It is also written in the Bible. That is how I have moved on. It is difficult for all people. Unfortunately, we look after our own interests first, often. It has been a tough period because sometimes you wish you had received more help and such.
"But at the same time I understand that we are all part of a 'business'. I have moved on and I love being at the club. I received a very good welcome when I came back."
Tottenham declined to comment on the matter. Kulusevski's injury was suffered in an apparently innocuous challenge with Marc Guéhi, which triggered an extensive rehabilitation process that remarkably included the possibility of a knee transplant.
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"The answer to why it took so long is that there are people who have never even come back from injuries like this," he added. "Above all, we should be happy that it was possible to come back.
"There are many who have stopped playing their sport due to cartilage damage. Why it took so long is that we don't know more.
"We did what we thought was best and it didn't work. After that we had to try another operation. Then many people were nervous when they realised that it didn't seem to work either.
"I had to sit all summer and talk to other doctors about having another operation. It would be a knee transplant. That I had replaced my knee with someone else's.
"Then I said no: 'We'll do it like this, if I have pain when I play, I have to play with pain'. I trained and tried to live like a normal person. I trusted that it would work out. So far I've been right."
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Sweden boss Graham Potter intends to manage Kulusevski's workload carefully, with the 26-year-old having featured only as a substitute for his club so far this season.
"We are of course in contact with Tottenham, and it is logical that we work closely with them," he said. "They have worked with Dejan for so long to get him back to the level he is at now.
"Therefore, it is reasonable that we have a close dialogue. We have a pretty good idea of how we can use him. But the most important thing for us is that he is here."