Dejan Kulusevski has hinted at friction behind the scenes at Tottenham, saying he was "disappointed in people" during his 526-day injury lay-off. The midfielder missed the entire 2025/26 season with a serious knee injury before returning in last month's 3-1 win over Coventry City.
Emotional comeback and cryptic comments
Speaking after the match, the Sweden international said the recovery process had seemed "impossible" at times and that he feared he might never play again. Initially ruled out with a 'knock', his prolonged absence remained a mystery to Spurs fans.
Having returned to the Sweden squad for the first time in two years, Kulusevski told Swedish reporters: "I have been disappointed in people during this period but at the same time I have to forgive everything."
Behind-the-scenes tensions
"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," he added.
"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.
Injury and recovery details
Kulusevski sustained the injury in a challenge with Marc Guehi on the final day of the 2024/25 season. His recovery was lengthy and remarkably involved the offer of a knee transplant.
"The answer to why it took so long is that there are people who have never even come back from injuries like this," he said. "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."
Rejecting surgery and looking ahead
"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," Kulusevski explained. "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."
Sweden manager Graham Potter said he will use the 26-year-old carefully, with Kulusevski only making substitute appearances for Tottenham this season. "We are of course in contact with Tottenham, and it is logical that we work closely with them," Potter 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."
