Ibra will play in the English Premier League again, says surgeon who operated on his knee
Sweden striker is expected to back in action after undergoing successful surgery in the US but timeframe not known
Hong Kong-born American professor Freddie Fu Ho-keung, the orthopaedic surgeon who repaired Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s damaged knee, has expressed confidence the Manchester United star would return to top-flight competition, but declined to predict when he would be fit to do so.
“I have treated almost 60 professional players and Ibrahimovic is certainly one of the best and strongest players I have ever operated on,” said Fu, who was in Hong Kong this week to deliver the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Dr Lui Che Woo Distinguished Professor Public Lecture.
The 35-year-old Swedish striker suffered a career-threatening injury in April after falling awkwardly during the Uefa Europa League quarter-final second leg match against Anderlecht at Old Trafford. Ibrahimovic was found to have serious ligament damage in his right knee and was sent to the United States to be treated by Fu.
“He has a very strong attitude,” said Fu of Ibrahimovic, adding that he found the Swede to be a “physically and mentally exceptionally strong player”. “Even before the operation, he firmly believed he would come back in his soccer career and would not retire just because of the injury.