AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has explained undergoing knee surgery this week.

The Swede now faces eight months on the sidelines.

“For the past six months, I played without an ACL in my left knee," he wrote on social media.

“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 teammates and coach champions of Italy because I made them a promise. Today I have a new ACL and another trophy."