Alves offered to donate liver to Abidal

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AppId is over the quota

Monaco full-back Eric Abidal has said that his old Barcelona teammate Dani Alves offered to donate the Frenchman his liver when Abidal needed a transplant 18 months ago.

Abidal was first diagnosed with a tumour on his liver in March 2011 and after briefly returning to the first team, was ruled out of the game for over a year to undergo the transplant in March 2012.

As a tribute to Abidal, who was surprisingly not offered a new contract by Barca at the end of last season, Alves has changed his squad number from two to Abidal's old number 22 this season.

However, the 34-year-old has revealed their friendship went even much further than public displays of support.

"My relationship with Dani goes much further than him taking my old number 22 shirt," he told Catalunya radio.

"When I had to undergo surgery, he wanted to donate his liver. Logically, he couldn't because he is a professional footballer. Our relationship goes much deeper than friendship."

In another recent interview Abidal caused controversy by saying that Barca hadn't paid him whilst he had been ill.

Those allegations were denied by the club who said they had fulfilled all their contractual obligations to the player.

Abidal admitted there had been a misunderstanding and that he will most likely return to the club to work with their football development team once he has finished playing.

In the period when Abidal needed the transplant and then during his recovery period, his playing contract was suspended by mutual consent, although he did continue to receive monthly payments from the club.

His playing contract was then reactivated when he returned to training with the first team.

"I don't have any problems with Barcelona. It was all signed, what they said was true and what I said was true.

"Everything is good. I will return to Barcelona with the joy that I have always had there.

"I have an agreement with Barca for when I finish playing to be the director of their football schools worldwide and I will almost certainly accept that proposition."

Barca didnt want to assume risk - Abidal

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AppId is over the quota

French defender Eric Abidal has claimed that Barcelona didn't offer him a new playing contract after recovering from a liver transplant because they didn't want to assume the risk that something would happen to him whilst on the field.

The 33-year-old returned to first-team action in early April after 14 months out due to the transplant, but he went onto make only four more appearances for the Catalans before the end of the season.

"They considered there was a risk that something could happen to me, they didn't want to assume this supposed responsability," he told Spanish newspaper El Mundo on Sunday.

"I want to continue playing whilst the doctors give me permission. I don't think it is the moment to leave it, I want to try and reach 35 before retiring."

Abidal spent six years with the Catalans, winning two Champions Leagues and four La Liga titles, but he insisted he didn't have any bad feelings towards the club and welcomed the offer to return as a technical director in Barca's football schools once he retires from playing.

"I would have liked to continue and this is not what I had in mind, but I go with good memories. Barcelona has been my second family.

"I like the offer because I love the kids and I want to teach young people what I have lived. It is a luxury to have this future, it will be a pleasure to work here, but only once I retire."

Barca didnt want to assume risk - Abidal

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

French defender Eric Abidal has claimed that Barcelona didn't offer him a new playing contract after recovering from a liver transplant because they didn't want to assume the risk that something would happen to him whilst on the field.

The 33-year-old returned to first-team action in early April after 14 months out due to the transplant, but he went onto make only four more appearances for the Catalans before the end of the season.

"They considered there was a risk that something could happen to me, they didn't want to assume this supposed responsability," he told Spanish newspaper El Mundo on Sunday.

"I want to continue playing whilst the doctors give me permission. I don't think it is the moment to leave it, I want to try and reach 35 before retiring."

Abidal spent six years with the Catalans, winning two Champions Leagues and four La Liga titles, but he insisted he didn't have any bad feelings towards the club and welcomed the offer to return as a technical director in Barca's football schools once he retires from playing.

"I would have liked to continue and this is not what I had in mind, but I go with good memories. Barcelona has been my second family.

"I like the offer because I love the kids and I want to teach young people what I have lived. It is a luxury to have this future, it will be a pleasure to work here, but only once I retire."

Barca didnt want to assume risk - Abidal

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

French defender Eric Abidal has claimed that Barcelona didn't offer him a new playing contract after recovering from a liver transplant because they didn't want to assume the risk that something would happen to him whilst on the field.

The 33-year-old returned to first-team action in early April after 14 months out due to the transplant, but he went onto make only four more appearances for the Catalans before the end of the season.

"They considered there was a risk that something could happen to me, they didn't want to assume this supposed responsability," he told Spanish newspaper El Mundo on Sunday.

"I want to continue playing whilst the doctors give me permission. I don't think it is the moment to leave it, I want to try and reach 35 before retiring."

Abidal spent six years with the Catalans, winning two Champions Leagues and four La Liga titles, but he insisted he didn't have any bad feelings towards the club and welcomed the offer to return as a technical director in Barca's football schools once he retires from playing.

"I would have liked to continue and this is not what I had in mind, but I go with good memories. Barcelona has been my second family.

"I like the offer because I love the kids and I want to teach young people what I have lived. It is a luxury to have this future, it will be a pleasure to work here, but only once I retire."

Abidal to clarify his future on Thursday

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AppId is over the quota

Barcelona defender Eric Abidal will announce at a press conference at 13h00 (11h00GMT) on Thursday whether he is to stay at the club, either in a playing or ambassadorial role, or leave the Spanish champions come the end of the season.

Abidal, who made a remarkable recovery from a liver transplant to return to first-team action last month, is out of contract at the end of the season.

And according to Barcelona sports daily El Mundo Deportivo, Abidal has not been offered a new playing contract, but instead a role within the sporting structure of the club which he is free to take up immediately or whenever he has finished his playing career somewhere else.

After his return to first-team action Abidal had signalled his intent to continue playing for another couple of years should he continue to be in good health.

"The objective I had wanted was to end my career playing and if I feel fine and can continue for a year or two I will do," he said after his first appearance for 14 months against Mallorca on April 6.

The Frenchman has made four appearances in total this season, but hasn't been involved since a 2-2 draw against Athletic Bilbao on April 27.

Abidal set for emotional Barcelona fairwell

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AppId is over the quota

Spanish champions Barcelona will pay a huge tribute to French defender Eric Abidal when he plays his final home match for the club against Malaga on Saturday.

"Once the match is finished, the first team players will reveal a shirt with 'Merci Abi 22' while 22 children will form a guard of honour to Abidal, his daughters and cousin Gerard," the club revealed on their website.

The French international stalwart, who wears the number 22 jersey at Barca, returned to full fitness in record time after undergoing a partial liver transplant donated by his cousin Gerard.

Abidal gave an emotional press conference on Thursday in which the 33-year-old explained he would have liked to continue his career at the Nou Camp after six seasons but has now accepted the fact he will play for another club next season.

Barcelona have also offered the inspirational defender a job as a technical director of their football youth system once his playing career is over.

Tearful Abidal ends Barcelona playing career

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

A tearful Eric Abidal called an end to his six-year Barcelona playing career on Thursday, less than two months after returning to action from a liver transplant.

"I am going, but I am sure I will be back" in another capacity, the French defender told a news conference at the club, which said it had offered him a role running the club's training schools.

"I would have liked to continue playing for Barca, but the clubs sees things differently and I have to respect that," he said, with tears in his eyes.

Abidal, 33, who made a remarkable recovery from last year's liver transplant to return to first-team action last month, is out of contract at the end of the season. He had said he hoped to continue playing for another couple of years.

"I had two aims -- firstly to fight for the sake of my daughters and see them grow up, and secondly to start playing again," he said of his recovery.

Tearful Abidal ends Barcelona playing career

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

A tearful Eric Abidal called an end to his six-year Barcelona playing career on Thursday, less than two months after returning to action from a liver transplant.

"I am going, but I am sure I will be back" in another capacity, the French defender told a news conference at the club, which said it had offered him a role running the club's training schools.

"I would have liked to continue playing for Barca, but the clubs sees things differently and I have to respect that," he said, with tears in his eyes.

Abidal, 33, who made a remarkable recovery from last year's liver transplant to return to first-team action last month, is out of contract at the end of the season. He had said he hoped to continue playing for another couple of years.

"I had two aims -- firstly to fight for the sake of my daughters and see them grow up, and secondly to start playing again," he said of his recovery.

Barca didnt want to assume risk - Abidal

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

French defender Eric Abidal has claimed that Barcelona didn't offer him a new playing contract after recovering from a liver transplant because they didn't want to assume the risk that something would happen to him whilst on the field.

The 33-year-old returned to first-team action in early April after 14 months out due to the transplant, but he went onto make only four more appearances for the Catalans before the end of the season.

"They considered there was a risk that something could happen to me, they didn't want to assume this supposed responsability," he told Spanish newspaper El Mundo on Sunday.

"I want to continue playing whilst the doctors give me permission. I don't think it is the moment to leave it, I want to try and reach 35 before retiring."

Abidal spent six years with the Catalans, winning two Champions Leagues and four La Liga titles, but he insisted he didn't have any bad feelings towards the club and welcomed the offer to return as a technical director in Barca's football schools once he retires from playing.

"I would have liked to continue and this is not what I had in mind, but I go with good memories. Barcelona has been my second family.

"I like the offer because I love the kids and I want to teach young people what I have lived. It is a luxury to have this future, it will be a pleasure to work here, but only once I retire."

Abidal set for emotional Barcelona fairwell

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Spanish champions Barcelona will pay a huge tribute to French defender Eric Abidal when he plays his final home match for the club against Malaga on Saturday.

"Once the match is finished, the first team players will reveal a shirt with 'Merci Abi 22' while 22 children will form a guard of honour to Abidal, his daughters and cousin Gerard," the club revealed on their website.

The French international stalwart, who wears the number 22 jersey at Barca, returned to full fitness in record time after undergoing a partial liver transplant donated by his cousin Gerard.

Abidal gave an emotional press conference on Thursday in which the 33-year-old explained he would have liked to continue his career at the Nou Camp after six seasons but has now accepted the fact he will play for another club next season.

Barcelona have also offered the inspirational defender a job as a technical director of their football youth system once his playing career is over.

Abidal to clarify his future on Thursday

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Barcelona defender Eric Abidal will announce at a press conference at 13h00 (11h00GMT) on Thursday whether he is to stay at the club, either in a playing or ambassadorial role, or leave the Spanish champions come the end of the season.

Abidal, who made a remarkable recovery from a liver transplant to return to first-team action last month, is out of contract at the end of the season.

And according to Barcelona sports daily El Mundo Deportivo, Abidal has not been offered a new playing contract, but instead a role within the sporting structure of the club which he is free to take up immediately or whenever he has finished his playing career somewhere else.

After his return to first-team action Abidal had signalled his intent to continue playing for another couple of years should he continue to be in good health.

"The objective I had wanted was to end my career playing and if I feel fine and can continue for a year or two I will do," he said after his first appearance for 14 months against Mallorca on April 6.

The Frenchman has made four appearances in total this season, but hasn't been involved since a 2-2 draw against Athletic Bilbao on April 27.

Tearful Abidal ends Barcelona playing career

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

A tearful Eric Abidal called an end to his six-year Barcelona playing career on Thursday, less than two months after returning to action from a liver transplant.

"I am going, but I am sure I will be back" in another capacity, the French defender told a news conference at the club, which said it had offered him a role running the club's training schools.

"I would have liked to continue playing for Barca, but the clubs sees things differently and I have to respect that," he said, with tears in his eyes.

Abidal, 33, who made a remarkable recovery from last year's liver transplant to return to first-team action last month, is out of contract at the end of the season. He had said he hoped to continue playing for another couple of years.

"I had two aims -- firstly to fight for the sake of my daughters and see them grow up, and secondly to start playing again," he said of his recovery.

Abidal to clarify his future on Thursday

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Barcelona defender Eric Abidal will announce at a press conference at 13h00 (11h00GMT) on Thursday whether he is to stay at the club, either in a playing or ambassadorial role, or leave the Spanish champions come the end of the season.

Abidal, who made a remarkable recovery from a liver transplant to return to first-team action last month, is out of contract at the end of the season.

And according to Barcelona sports daily El Mundo Deportivo, Abidal has not been offered a new playing contract, but instead a role within the sporting structure of the club which he is free to take up immediately or whenever he has finished his playing career somewhere else.

After his return to first-team action Abidal had signalled his intent to continue playing for another couple of years should he continue to be in good health.

"The objective I had wanted was to end my career playing and if I feel fine and can continue for a year or two I will do," he said after his first appearance for 14 months against Mallorca on April 6.

The Frenchman has made four appearances in total this season, but hasn't been involved since a 2-2 draw against Athletic Bilbao on April 27.

Abidal set for emotional Barcelona fairwell

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Spanish champions Barcelona will pay a huge tribute to French defender Eric Abidal when he plays his final home match for the club against Malaga on Saturday.

"Once the match is finished, the first team players will reveal a shirt with 'Merci Abi 22' while 22 children will form a guard of honour to Abidal, his daughters and cousin Gerard," the club revealed on their website.

The French international stalwart, who wears the number 22 jersey at Barca, returned to full fitness in record time after undergoing a partial liver transplant donated by his cousin Gerard.

Abidal gave an emotional press conference on Thursday in which the 33-year-old explained he would have liked to continue his career at the Nou Camp after six seasons but has now accepted the fact he will play for another club next season.

Barcelona have also offered the inspirational defender a job as a technical director of their football youth system once his playing career is over.

Tearful Abidal ends Barcelona playing career

A tearful Eric Abidal called an end to his six-year Barcelona playing career on Thursday, less than two months after returning to action from a liver transplant.

"I am going, but I am sure I will be back" in another capacity, the French defender told a news conference at the club, which said it had offered him a role running the club's training schools.

"I would have liked to continue playing for Barca, but the clubs sees things differently and I have to respect that," he said, with tears in his eyes.

Abidal, 33, who made a remarkable recovery from last year's liver transplant to return to first-team action last month, is out of contract at the end of the season. He had said he hoped to continue playing for another couple of years.

"I had two aims -- firstly to fight for the sake of my daughters and see them grow up, and secondly to start playing again," he said of his recovery.

Abidal to discuss Barca future with president

French full-back Eric Abidal is due to have a meeting with Barcelona president Sandro Rosell to discuss his future with the Catalans, club spokesman Toni Freixa said Wednesday.

The 33-year-old has missed most of the last year after contracting liver cancer and his current playing deal comes to an end in June.

Barca have not revealed whether Abidal's offer is to continue playing or for some other role -- although a month ago they suggested it was an ambassadorial role -- but the Spanish champions are keen to keep him on.

"As (sports director Andoni) Zubizarreta has already said, the club have made a proposal to Abidal and we'll soon find out what he decides," said Freixa.

"In the next few days he should meet president Rosell and we'll publish the result of that meeting."

Abidal, who previously played for Monaco, Lille and Lyon, underwent a liver transplant in April 2012 and has played little for Barca since then.

He has previously said he would like to continue his playing career as long as he can.

Abidal para aclarar su futuro el jueves

Defensor del Barcelona Eric Abidal anunciará en Conferencia de prensa a las 13h 00 (11h00GMT) el jueves si es quedarse en el club, ya sea en un rol Juego o embajadores, o salir a campeones de España viene al final de la temporada.

Abidal, que hizo una recuperación notable de un trasplante de hígado para volver a la acción del primer equipo el mes pasado, está fuera de contrato al final de la temporada.

Y según Barcelona deportes diario El Mundo Deportivo, Abidal no ha sido ofrecieron un nuevo contrato juego, sino más bien un papel dentro de la estructura deportiva del club que es libre de tomar inmediatamente o cuando ha terminado su carrera como jugador en algún otro lugar.

Después de su regreso a la acción del primer equipo Abidal había señalado su intención de seguir jugando durante otro par de años sigan a estar en buena salud.

"El objetivo que había querido debía terminar mi carrera jugando y si me siento bien y puede continúan durante un año o dos voy a hacer", dijo después de su primera aparición durante 14 meses contra el Mallorca el 6 de abril.

El francés ha hecho cuatro apariciones en total esta temporada, pero no ha estado involucrado desde un empate 2-2 contra el Athletic de Bilbao el 27 de abril.