Zlatan at career crossroads after surgery sidelines veteran for 7-8 months

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will need to overcome another lengthy spell on the sidelines if he wants to continue his career in professional football.

The striker, who turns 41 in October, will be out for about seven-to-eight months following a successful knee operation, AC Milan said Wednesday. The club added that the procedure was a "reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament, with lateral reinforcement and meniscus reparation."

The Swede's contract with the Rossoneri expires this summer.

Ibrahimovic started only 11 matches during Milan's Scudetto-winning campaign as his fitness became a growing concern. He dealt with knee and Achilles injuries throughout the season, prompting Italian icon Francesco Totti, who retired at 40, to urge Zlatan to "listen to his body" before deciding to continue.

Ibrahimovic admitted in March of being fearful of stepping away when the game gave him an incredible source of adrenaline. "I will not find it anywhere else," he said.

He added, "I will continue as long as possible and just enjoy."

During his spell with Manchester United, Ibrahimovic famously took just seven months to return to the pitch after damaging the cruciate ligament in his knee.