Zlatan Ibrahimović says he took 'painkillers every day for six months' as AC Milan star 'suffered so much' to win Serie A title

By Sana Noor Haq, CNN

Updated 1137 GMT (1937 HKT) May 27, 2022

Zlatan Ibrahimović celebrates clinching the Serie A title with AC Milan on Sunday.

(CNN)Zlatan Ibrahimović said he has «never suffered so much» in pursuit of a trophy, after he lifted the Scudetto with AC Milan on Sunday.

The Swedish striker revealed on social media that he has played the last six months of the season without an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee — the strong band of tissue that connects the thigh bone to the shin bone and the knee joint. «Swollen knee for six months,» Ibrahimović said in a post published to his verified Instagram account on Thursday. «I was only able to train with the team 10 times in the last six months.»Zlatan Ibrahimović revels in AC Milan's first Serie A title in 11 years, dedicates trophy to Mino Raiola«Took more than 20 injections in six months. Emptied the knee once a week for six months. Painkillers every day for six months. Barely slept for six months because of the pain. Never suffered so much on and off the pitch.»The Rossoneri won 3-0 against Sassuolo to clinch their first Serie A title in over a decade, ending the season on 86 points — two points ahead of runners up Inter Milan. Read More«I made something impossible to something possible. In my mind I had only one objective, to make my teammates and coach champions of Italy because I made them a promise. Today I have a new ACL and another trophy,» Ibrahimović added. Alessio Romagnoli (center) of AC Milan lifts the Scudetto trophy as his teammates celebrate during the Serie A award ceremony.Ibrahimović's post came hours after AC Milan announced that he had undergone successful knee surgery in Lyon, France on Wednesday. «AC Milan announces that