Alves offered to donate liver to Abidal

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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."

'Cesc Fabregas brings a lot to Barca', says Dani Alves

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Dani Alves has backed Cesc Fabregas to return to his best for Barcelona this season - if he stays at the Nou Camp.

Manchester United are believed to be tabling a third bid for Fabregas after having two offers rejected, although the Catalan side's sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta has indicated that the Barclays Premier League champions have now given up their pursuit of the former Arsenal captain.

Alves and his Barca team-mates hold the midfielder in a high regard, and the Brazil wing-back would be 'delighted' if the 26-year-old chose to remain with the Primera Division champions.

In an extensive and outspoken interview with Catalan radio station Rac1, Alves spoke about Fabregas while also discussing Thiago Alcantara, who left Barcelona - his boyhood club - earlier this summer to join former coach Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich.

"I think that Thiago hurried a little, but I like that attitude because the worst thing you can do is remain comfortable," Alves said of the 23-year-old.

However, he said it was wrong to compare Thiago to Fabregas, who left Barca for Arsenal aged 16 only to return aged 24 after seven campaigns with the Gunners.

Alves explained: "Cesc's is a different case. He has already left here once. He left the club, made a name for himself and then returned. He wasn't at his best at the end of last season but we were all the same.

"Football is a collective sport and you cannot look for scapegoats. If he decides to stay here, I'll be delighted to continue having him as a team-mate. The squad respects him a lot."

He added: "It's up to him what he does, but I think he can bring a lot to this side. The team needs players of Cesc's quality to win trophies."

Alves also risked the wrath of the Barcelona board by declaring his bewilderment at the club's decision to release Eric Abidal at the end of last season.

Neymar would help Messi Says Barcelona's Dani Alves

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Barcelona full-back Dani Alves has claimed the signing of his Brazilian international colleague Neymar would help ease the burden that has been placed on Lionel Messi this season.

The four-time World Player of the Year has scored 60 times this season despite an injury-hit last couple of months to the campaign, whilst the second-highest scorer in the squad, David Villa, has only registered 14 goals.

And Alves doesn't believe pairing Neymar and Messi together would be a problem should Barca finally complete their pursuit of the 21-year-old before the start of next season.

"Two phenomenons are better than one," he told Barcelona sports daily El Mundo Deportivo.

"They are two good players and play in different positions. They would understand each other.

"It doesn't bother Neymar to be the protagonist or not, although his way of playing will always attract attention. Neymar would be a relief, he would help Leo a lot."

Barca's dependence on Messi was most cruelly exposed on the European stage this season as the Argentine was forced into action when clearly carrying a hamstring injury against Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and missed the semi-final second-leg against Bayern Munich as the Germans went on to inflict a 7-0 aggregate defeat on the Catalans.

"In some games they have marked Messi a lot and Neymar would help unbalance defences more. We have lacked a little continuity up front and the objective looking forward to next season is to continue competing for everything."

However, Alves refused to quash rumours that he could be one of those on his way out as the club tries to raise funds for a splurge in the transfer market in the close season.

The 30-year-old has been linked with a move to PSG among others and he is keeping his options open.

"I said that I wouldn't close the door to PSG because the more doors you have open, the better."

"I intend to stay here until they don't want me and I have advised Neymar to play at Barca because for me it is the best club and to be able to play with him. But it would be stupid to close doors for myself."

Neymar would help Messi Says Barcelona's Dani Alves

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Barcelona full-back Dani Alves has claimed the signing of his Brazilian international colleague Neymar would help ease the burden that has been placed on Lionel Messi this season.

The four-time World Player of the Year has scored 60 times this season despite an injury-hit last couple of months to the campaign, whilst the second-highest scorer in the squad, David Villa, has only registered 14 goals.

And Alves doesn't believe pairing Neymar and Messi together would be a problem should Barca finally complete their pursuit of the 21-year-old before the start of next season.

"Two phenomenons are better than one," he told Barcelona sports daily El Mundo Deportivo.

"They are two good players and play in different positions. They would understand each other.

"It doesn't bother Neymar to be the protagonist or not, although his way of playing will always attract attention. Neymar would be a relief, he would help Leo a lot."

Barca's dependence on Messi was most cruelly exposed on the European stage this season as the Argentine was forced into action when clearly carrying a hamstring injury against Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and missed the semi-final second-leg against Bayern Munich as the Germans went on to inflict a 7-0 aggregate defeat on the Catalans.

"In some games they have marked Messi a lot and Neymar would help unbalance defences more. We have lacked a little continuity up front and the objective looking forward to next season is to continue competing for everything."

However, Alves refused to quash rumours that he could be one of those on his way out as the club tries to raise funds for a splurge in the transfer market in the close season.

The 30-year-old has been linked with a move to PSG among others and he is keeping his options open.

"I said that I wouldn't close the door to PSG because the more doors you have open, the better."

"I intend to stay here until they don't want me and I have advised Neymar to play at Barca because for me it is the best club and to be able to play with him. But it would be stupid to close doors for myself."

Neymar ayudaría a Dani Alves Messi dice barcelonés

Full-back de Barcelona Dani Alves ha afirmado la firma de su colega internacional brasileño Neymar ayudaría a aliviar la carga que ha dado a Lionel Messi esta temporada.

El jugador del mundo cuatro veces del año ha anotado 60 veces esta temporada a pesar de una lesión-golpee últimos meses de la campaña, mientras que el segundo máximo anotador en el equipo, David Villa, ha registrado sólo 14 goles.

Y no creo que Alves emparejamiento Neymar y Messi juntos sería que un problema debe Barca finalmente completa su búsqueda de los 21 años de edad, antes del inicio de la próxima temporada.

"Los dos fenómenos son mejores que uno", dijo Barcelona deportes diario El Mundo Deportivo.

"Son dos buenos jugadores y jugar en diferentes posiciones. ¿Entienden mutuamente.

"No importa Neymar para ser el protagonista o no, aunque su manera de tocar siempre atraerá la atención. Neymar sería un alivio, él ayudaría mucho a Leo".

Dependencia del Barça de Messi fue más cruelmente expuesta en el escenario europeo esta temporada como el argentino se vio obligado en acción al llevar claramente una lesión del tendón de la corva contra el Paris Saint-Germain en cuartos de final de la Champions League y perdió la semifinal segunda pierna contra Bayern Munich como los alemanes llegó a infligir una derrota total de 7-0 sobre los catalanes.

"En algunos juegos han marcado mucho Messi y Neymar ayudaría a desequilibrar defensas más. Ha faltado continuidad un poco al frente y el objetivo que se espera para la próxima temporada es seguir compitiendo por todo".

Sin embargo, Alves quiso acallar rumores que él podría ser uno de los que a su salida como el club intenta recaudar fondos para un derroche en el mercado de transferencias en la temporada de cierre.

30 Años de edad se ha vinculado con un movimiento de PSG entre otros y se mantiene sus opciones abiertas.

"Le dije que no cierro la puerta a PSG porque abre las puertas más tienes, mejor".

"Voy a permanecer aquí hasta que no me quieren y me he aconsejado Neymar para jugar en el Barca porque para mí es el mejor club y poder jugar con él. Pero sería estúpido que cerrar puertas para mí."