Kulusevski breaks silence with cryptic post after missing Tottenham survival and World Cup
Tottenham Hotspur winger Dejan Kulusevski has posted an emotional and philosophical message on Instagram, reflecting on a year-long battle with a serious knee injury that saw him miss the club’s dramatic Premier League survival on the final day and Sweden’s World Cup squad.
The 26-year-old Swedish international, who has not played since May 2025, wrote: “If you were God and could dream any life you wanted, you’d begin with the most ecstatic adventures. But eventually, you’d crave surprise. You’d crave uncertainty. You’d dream the dream of not knowing what happens next — and that is the dream you’re living right now.”
He added: “Not the year I expected, but I keep fighting every day and holding on to the moment I get to do what I love most again.”
Kulusevski was present at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday as his teammates secured a 1-0 victory over Everton, a result that kept the club in the Premier League and relegated West Ham United. He was seen applauding the fans after the final whistle, his first public appearance at the ground since his injury.
The injury that changed everything
Kulusevski’s ordeal began in May 2025, when a challenge from then-Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi caused a complicated patella injury in his right knee. He underwent surgery and, after a setback in his rehabilitation, a second clean-up procedure earlier this year. Attempts to return to training at Hotspur Way were repeatedly met with discomfort.
In March, he was spotted limping while visiting the Sweden national team camp, though he insisted the clean-up procedure was the cause and that his knee felt good. He had set his sights on being fit for the 2026 World Cup, but Sweden head coach Graham Potter — the former Chelsea and Brighton boss — ultimately left him out of the squad for the tournament across the Atlantic this summer.
Potter had previously expressed hope that Kulusevski would be ready for the start of the new Premier League season in August, saying: “I think it’s important now that this time he can really focus on getting himself ready for the start of the season. Dejan is at a stage where his rehab is so important.”
Tottenham’s injury crisis — a season defined by absences
Kulusevski was far from the only key player sidelined during a catastrophic campaign for Tottenham. The club finished 17th for the second consecutive season, surviving only on the final day thanks to a late managerial rescue act by Roberto De Zerbi.
James Maddison, who himself spent most of the season recovering from an ACL injury suffered in pre-season, called for an investigation into the club’s injury record. Speaking after the Everton match, Maddison said: “Our situation with the injuries has been worse than any other club. People try and say, ‘Oh, but we’ve got this and that.’ But ours is astronomical and we need to look at why that is.”
Maddison acknowledged that some injuries were simply bad luck — his own ACL tear and Kulusevski’s knee damage from a poor challenge — but he insisted the sheer volume of absences had to be examined. The club was also without Cristian Romero, Xavi Simons, Mohammed Kudus, Wilson Odobert, Ben Davies, Rodrigo Bentancur, Dominic Solanke, Radu Dragusin, and Lucas Bergvall for significant periods.
A season of managerial turmoil
Tottenham’s struggles extended beyond the treatment room. The club began the season under Ange Postecoglou, who had won the Europa League the previous year. After his sacking, Thomas Frank was appointed but could not turn the tide. Igor Tudor then took over in a decision widely criticised as ill-suited, before De Zerbi arrived in March to steer the club to safety.
De Zerbi took 11 points from the final six games, a run that included only the club’s third home league win of the entire season. After the victory over Everton, he described the achievement as the best of his managerial career. The Athletic reported that De Zerbi was moved to tears by the support from the stands.
Despite the relief of survival, banners protesting the club’s ownership — reading “Promised Success. Delivering Failure. ENIC out” — were unfurled during the match. Former chairman Daniel Levy left his role in September 2025, but the scrutiny has now shifted to chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange.
What this means for Kulusevski and Tottenham’s rebuild
Kulusevski’s return to fitness remains one of the most closely watched storylines at Spurs heading into the summer transfer window and pre-season. He was one of the club’s most dynamic attackers before his injury, and his ability to recover his form will be critical to De Zerbi’s plans for a squad that has lacked creativity and goal threat.
The winger’s cryptic Instagram post suggests he is still uncertain about his immediate future — “not knowing what comes next” — but his determination is clear. The emotional message, coupled with his appearance at the stadium, signals he is ready to rejoin the group mentally, even if physically he is not yet there.
For Tottenham, the challenge is to rebuild a squad that has been decimated by injuries and poor planning. The club avoided total humiliation by staying up, but as BBC Sport noted, the sound of fans chanting “We Are Staying Up” should reverberate as a warning. The inquest must now begin into how a team that finished fifth two seasons ago and won the Europa League last year ended up fighting for survival.
De Zerbi remains the positive face of the club, but he cannot solve everything alone. The return of players like Kulusevski and Maddison will be a start, but deeper structural issues — from medical protocols to recruitment philosophy — need to be addressed.
For Kulusevski, the next chapter begins now. As he wrote: “I keep fighting every day and holding on to the moment I get to do what I love most again.” Tottenham fans will hope that moment arrives in August.
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