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.

History could repeat itself for Paul Pogba.

The French midfielder is considering an offer to reunite with Juventus after his Manchester United contract expires at the end of June, reports Rob Dawson of ESPN.

Pogba left United for Juventus in 2012, establishing himself as an elite midfielder during a spell in Italy that lasted until 2016. He then rejoined United for an £89.3-million fee – a world record at the time.

He’s now contemplating a return to Serie A after receiving a “concrete proposal” that puts Juventus in the lead to sign the World Cup winner, Dawson adds.

The French international has yet to make a final decision, according to Dawson.

Paris Saint-Germain are also reportedly in contention and could attract Pogba with an offer to play in his home country.

Manchester City were surprise contenders, but Pogba rejected an offer to join Pep Guardiola’s squad due to reported concerns about backlash from Manchester United supporters.

Pogba has struggled to consistently replicate the form that made him a star at Juventus in the six years since he returned to Old Trafford; frustrated fans booed him in his last two games against Norwich City and Liverpool.

The 29-year-old recently admitted to experiencing depression, which began during Jose Mourinho’s volatile spell as Manchester United manager.

Pogba, who has missed the last four matches with a calf problem, could be in contention to play his final match for Manchester United on Sunday after returning to training.

Barcelona manager Xavi confirmed Saturday that outgoing Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski is “an option” for the Spanish side this summer.

“Yes, Lewandowski is an option,” Xavi told reporters, according to ESPN’s Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens.

“He has already said he wants to leave, there are negotiations, but he still has a contract at his club. It won’t be easy – being Bayern – but it’s an option.”

The Polish striker confirmed last week he wants to leave Bayern after eight years to pursue other opportunities when the summer transfer window opens.

After weeks of speculation, Xavi revealed Barcelona’s interest in the prolific scorer ahead of Barcelona’s La Liga finale against Villarreal.

But completing a deal for the 33-year-old hinges on Bayern accepting Barcelona’s transfer offer and finding an attacking replacement to fill the massive void Lewandowski will leave behind.

Bayern Munich were eager to keep Lewandowski, offering a contract extension to the two-time winner of The Best FIFA Men’s Player award. But they later admitted defeat after Lewandowski rejected their offer.

Lewandowski, who joined Bayern from Borussia Dortmund in 2014, ended the 2021-22 campaign with 50 goals in 46 appearances in all competitions.

He played a pivotal role in helping Bayern win the Bundesliga in each of the eight seasons he spent in Munich, and he led the German side to a Champions League triumph in 2020.

Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino and sporting director Leonardo are expected to leave their respective positions as the club prepares for a massive shake-up, according to The Guardian’s Fabrizio Romano.

The news follows reports that star forward Kylian Mbappe will sign a new three-year contract with PSG.

Mbappe was set to run out his current deal and leave as a free agent once it expired June 30.

The 23-year-old has had an uneasy relationship with Leonardo and moved to oust him during recent meetings with PSG’s upper hierarchy, sources told ESPN’s Julien Laurens.

Mbappe reportedly recommended former AS Monaco and Lille director Luis Campos as a replacement. Campos – who discovered Mbappe in 2013 while scouting for Monaco and sold the player’s rights to PSG four years later for €180 million – is currently a free agent.

Mbappe’s relationship with Pochettino is less clear. The manager said in late April that he was confident he and Mbappe would remain in Paris next season.

Zinedine Zidane is an early favorite to replace Pochettino. The Frenchman – who won three consecutive Champions League titles with Real Madrid from 2016-18 – is also a free agent after leaving the La Liga outfit last year.

Mbappe reportedly rejected the chance to join Madrid on a free transfer this summer after PSG significantly improved their offer. Recent reports indicated Los Blancos had reached an agreement on personal terms with the World Cup winner.

Madrid tried to sign Mbappe last summer, presenting multiple offers worth as much as €200 million but failing to secure his services. Leonardo slammed Madrid’s behavior in October, saying they showed a “lack of respect” and should face punishment for openly courting the player over the last two years.