Thanking the family, God and Zlatan: "I was in so much pain"

Dejan Kulusevski was out of action for 526 days and when it looked the bleakest, the thoughts were sometimes about what he would do without football.

- My answer was to move to an island and be with my family, it was the best thing I could think of. If I hadn't had my daughter it would have been tough, then I would have been lost. But she was so funny, so "as long as I get to be with her, I'll have fun", says Kulusevski.

On Tuesday, he met the Swedish media after doing his first national team training in almost two years, at Blågult's base outside Valencia.

In March, Kulusevski was also here when the team was preparing for the WC playoffs, but then he limped badly and was far from fit.

Now he has made four appearances in Tottenham in recent weeks and the feeling is completely different from last summer, when the doubts were at their strongest.

- It didn't get any better. I had so much pain going up stairs. Then I started thinking "if it's over, it's over". So I had to tell my mother that I don't think it will work. Just to prepare her and the family. But those very days, that's when it changed. And after it got better, I felt that I will make it, says the 26-year-old.

The cartilage injury in his knee, which he sustained in a Premier League match in May 2025, has been difficult to treat and along the way Kulusevski has tried almost everything to get well. He says he has many to thank, including a doctor in Serbia whom he came into contact with after a tip from a certain Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

- Zlatan is the best, I promise. Everyone thinks he's cocky and this whole image, but for me Zlatan is more humble than everyone else. He is the one who gets in touch and wants you well, says the Tottenham star, who is enjoying being back in Blue and Yellow.

- It feels like I'm at home. I think this week will give me a huge boost, to just be with the boys and play for Sweden, he says.

If the knee hurts now?

- On match day, it works. There are some days it doesn't feel like it used to, but once I'm on the court I don't think about it. I'm really happy with how it is right now.

Almost a year and a half has disappeared from his football career, but Dejan Kulusevski says he has come through it stronger. Partly thanks to his faith in God.

- In the Bible it is clearly stated that the one who suffers the most gets the most. So when you read the book, I feel "okay, this is my thing and I love this, this is my challenge", says Kulusevski.

On Saturday, he expects to jump in against Bosnia-Herzegovina at the national arena in Solna.

- A dream. That's what I've worked hard for. I will get to play both games, around 30 minutes in both games is what has been said.