On his YouTube channel, Ismael Bennacer has been giving AC Milan fans a view into the life of a footballer, more so, the side of the recovery process. In his latest episode, he documents an MRI scan and explains his recovery and feelings about the upcoming African Cup of Nations.
Bennacer’s return to the Milan squad has felt like a new signing, given before the game against Frosinone, his last appearance for the Rossoneri was over 200 days ago. While he is yet to start after his recovery, he is not believed to be far away from his return to Stefano Pioli’s starting side.
The midfielder required knee surgery at the tail end of the 2022-23 season after he suffered a knee injury in the Champions League against Inter, which saw the Algerian midfielder miss 27 games for the Rossoneri.
However, upon his return, he set his goals very high. He recently spoke of his aspirations to win the Ballon d’Or, which can make AC Milan fans excited for what is to come from Bennacer.
During Ismael Bennacer’s recovery (recorded months before now, not at the time of uploading), he documented his challenges, check-ups, and rehabilitation process and uploaded them to his YouTube channel at a later date to show fans, and his words have been relayed by MilanNews.
Ahead of his MRI scan…
“The MRI should be positive, let’s go and see the butcher [he jokes about his surgeon] who operated on me.”
He is asked if it will be difficult to appear at the African Cup Of Nations.
“No, no. I should make it. Impossible? Not at all. Everything should be OK before January.”
After undergoing the MRI, he is given an update…
‘It’s good. There is still some fluid in the knee. It’s a bit swollen, but I don’t see anything else. The new cartilage has taken root well.’
Bennacer is relieved about the results…
“Every time I have an MRI, it’s really noisy. I’m used to it by now, I’ve had several. The doctor told me it went very well. There is still some fluid in the knee, which is normal after an operation like that.”
Bertrand Sonnery-Cotter, his surgeon, says…
“He had severely damaged the cartilage. The surgical procedure therefore consisted of a graft. A piece of cartilage was taken from a less important area of the knee to graft the damaged area. It takes time because the graft has to be integrated.
“The results, three months after the operation, are very satisfactory. The MRI was good and the integration of the graft the same, there are no problems.”
Valentin Beasse, his physiotherapist, says…
“Yesterday we had an appointment with the surgeon for a post-operative check-up at three months. We had an MRI and met the surgeon. Everything went well.”
I can’t decide if it’s rude or not for him to go to the cup. I get that representing your country is a huge honor, on the other hand the club has been waiting for a long time for him to return. Everyone will be holding their breath that he doesn’t get injured the entire tourny. I go back and forth on it.
Playing and representing for national team is the highest honor than playing for a club.
He needs to go…you won’t keep players like CR7 from playing in the Euro’s…the disrespect shown to African competitors is unreal…Al Ahli just taught Benzema and Kante a lesson in the Club world cup..and besides that Egypt has always been better than the Saudi Goat Herder league..even South Africa…Saudi has never delivered quality..players careers go there to die…let Benna go and get form…they have a massive chance of winning it..he already won player of the tournamentand our fans forget this guy is miles better than Sandro.