Tweet
Barcelona defender Eric Abidal to undergo liver transplant
Barcelona 's France international Eric Abidal will undergo a liver transplant in the coming weeks, the club said Thursday.
Surgery: the Barcelona players pay tribute to Eric Abidal follwing the club's fourth European Cup final win at Wembley Stadium Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By Telegraph staff and agencies
3:37PM GMT 15 Mar 2012
Comment
"The transplant is an option that has been considered since the beginning of his treatment, one year ago," the European champions said on their Twitter feed.
The 32-year-old France international had a tumor removed from his liver on March 17, 2011, but returned to play the end of the season and showed few lingering effects since then.
In a tribute, he was chosen to lift the club's fourth European Cup at Wembley Stadium after helping Barcelona beat Manchester United 3-1 in the Champions League final last May.
The announcement has put Abidal's chances of playing at the European Championship in doubt.
"On the one hand there are some things that are much more important in life than football. We should think about him and his health," France defender Philippe Mexes told RMC radio.
Related Articles
"I hope with all my heart that everything goes well for him and that he can be with us at the Euro. He has experience, amazing qualities.
"We hadn't spoken about it (his illness) much," Mexes added. "Maybe he was afraid of worrying us, but I'm staggered (by the news)."
Abidal has been a regular with Barcelona since joining the team from Lyon in 2007. The club said the player had requested his right to privacy and confidentiality be respected.
Abidal, who injured his groin while playing a midweek friendly for France two weeks ago, was one of the players Barcelona hoped to have back from injury for its league match against Sevilla this weekend. It was not immediately clear if the player would now be sidelined.
Barcelona captain Carles Puyol admitted the news was a "rude awakening" for the squad, but backed him to return from this latest setback.
A club statement said: "Given the development of his medical condition, Abidal will undergo a liver transplant in the following weeks.
"The transplant is an option that has been considered since the beginning of his treatment, one year ago.
"At the express wish of the player, the club requested the utmost respect for the right to privacy and confidentiality."
The squad were told the latest news at training today.
"We had a meeting minutes before going on to the pitch," Spain defender Puyol said. "It was a rude awakening. Eric was at the meeting. We then talked to him, and logically that stays in the dressing room."
Puyol claimed Abidal was in good spirits.
"It is him who encourages us. His attitude is an example," he added.
"We are confident that he will come out of this. We will give him all the strength we have and we will support him and his family. I am convinced that soon he will be fine.
"He is very strong, he showed that last season and will prove it again.
"It's a major blow. We had the news last season and now we get it again. But this will make us even stronger."
Abidal has been a first-team regular this season, starting 20 Primera Division games, although he has not played since suffering what was described as a hip injury playing for France in their friendly win over Germany at the start of the month.
Another of Abidal's team-mates, Gerard Pique, also backed the Frenchman to return stronger than ever.
He posted on his Twitter account: "And you will return as always, still the best! You are an example for all! £ animoabidal."
The Catalan giants have 12 games left to play this season in the Primera Division and are through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
They did not give any indication how long the 32-year-old would be out of action for.
Barcelona 's France international Eric Abidal will undergo a liver transplant in the coming weeks, the club said Thursday.
Surgery: the Barcelona players pay tribute to Eric Abidal follwing the club's fourth European Cup final win at Wembley Stadium Photo: GETTY IMAGESBy Telegraph staff and agencies
3:37PM GMT 15 Mar 2012
Comment"The transplant is an option that has been considered since the beginning of his treatment, one year ago," the European champions said on their Twitter feed.
The 32-year-old France international had a tumor removed from his liver on March 17, 2011, but returned to play the end of the season and showed few lingering effects since then.
In a tribute, he was chosen to lift the club's fourth European Cup at Wembley Stadium after helping Barcelona beat Manchester United 3-1 in the Champions League final last May.
The announcement has put Abidal's chances of playing at the European Championship in doubt.
"On the one hand there are some things that are much more important in life than football. We should think about him and his health," France defender Philippe Mexes told RMC radio.
Related Articles
- Messi shows off goalkeeping skills
14 Mar 2012 - Messi's first 200 Barcelona goals
08 Mar 2012 - Lionel Messi by numbers
08 Mar 2012 - Ronaldo and Messi continue to dazzle
27 Feb 2012 - Messi hits four in Barca rout
20 Feb 2012 - Ronaldo hands Real 10-point lead
13 Feb 2012
"I hope with all my heart that everything goes well for him and that he can be with us at the Euro. He has experience, amazing qualities.
"We hadn't spoken about it (his illness) much," Mexes added. "Maybe he was afraid of worrying us, but I'm staggered (by the news)."
Abidal has been a regular with Barcelona since joining the team from Lyon in 2007. The club said the player had requested his right to privacy and confidentiality be respected.
Abidal, who injured his groin while playing a midweek friendly for France two weeks ago, was one of the players Barcelona hoped to have back from injury for its league match against Sevilla this weekend. It was not immediately clear if the player would now be sidelined.
Barcelona captain Carles Puyol admitted the news was a "rude awakening" for the squad, but backed him to return from this latest setback.
A club statement said: "Given the development of his medical condition, Abidal will undergo a liver transplant in the following weeks.
"The transplant is an option that has been considered since the beginning of his treatment, one year ago.
"At the express wish of the player, the club requested the utmost respect for the right to privacy and confidentiality."
The squad were told the latest news at training today.
"We had a meeting minutes before going on to the pitch," Spain defender Puyol said. "It was a rude awakening. Eric was at the meeting. We then talked to him, and logically that stays in the dressing room."
Puyol claimed Abidal was in good spirits.
"It is him who encourages us. His attitude is an example," he added.
"We are confident that he will come out of this. We will give him all the strength we have and we will support him and his family. I am convinced that soon he will be fine.
"He is very strong, he showed that last season and will prove it again.
"It's a major blow. We had the news last season and now we get it again. But this will make us even stronger."
Abidal has been a first-team regular this season, starting 20 Primera Division games, although he has not played since suffering what was described as a hip injury playing for France in their friendly win over Germany at the start of the month.
Another of Abidal's team-mates, Gerard Pique, also backed the Frenchman to return stronger than ever.
He posted on his Twitter account: "And you will return as always, still the best! You are an example for all! £ animoabidal."
The Catalan giants have 12 games left to play this season in the Primera Division and are through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
They did not give any indication how long the 32-year-old would be out of action for.
Comment