Zlatan Ibrahimovic shares graphic footage of his knee being 'emptied'

AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has shared footage of his knee being emptied on social media.

The Swedish forward recently revealed the extent of the knee injury that will now see him miss the rest of the year.

Ibrahimovic, 40, was only able to train with his teammates 10 times over the past six months. 

Despite the injury, which left him without an anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, he managed to score eight goals in 23 games as AC Milan won the Serie A title.

“For the past six months I played without an ACL in my left knee,” Ibrahimovic wrote on Instagram after undergoing surgery.

“Swollen knee for six months. I was only able to train with the team 10 times in the last six months. 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.

“I made something impossible to something possible. In my mind I had only one objective, to make my team-mates and coach champions of Italy because I made them a promise. Today I have a new ACL and another trophy.”

Ibrahimovic has now shared footage of his knee being emptied – and it’s not for the faint-hearted.

In the video, a syringe is placed in the side of Ibrahimovic’s left knee and fluid is withdrawn.

Emptied the knee once a week for six months pic.twitter.com/ewLbIizL2P

Having that done once a week for six months? Not fun.

And yet this might not be the end of the Swede’s iconic football journey.

AC Milan’s technical director Paolo Maldini recently revealed that he believes the former Manchester United striker will continue playing, and that an agreement could be reached for him to remain with the Italian