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Alves, left, with Abidal before the Frenchman left Barcelona. Miquel Llop/CORDON/Press Association Images
Cancer battle

Dani Alves offered Eric Abidal part of his liver for transplant

Alves now wears Abidal’s old number 22 shirt but the story “goes beyond the jersey.”

BARCELONA’S DANI ALVES offered team-mate Eric Abidal part of his liver when he needed a transplant last year.

Alves “wanted to give me his liver but it couldn’t be,” Abidal told Radio Catalunya in quotes obtained by the Associated Press.

The French defender, 34, was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour in March 2011 and needed a transplant. His cousin donated part of his liver for the procedure.

The operation was a success and Abidal was able to resume his football career but left Barcelona at the end of last season. He is now the captain of Ligue 1 side Monaco while Alves wears his old number 22 for the Catalan giants.

“The story with Dani goes beyond the jersey,” Abidal said.

“He knows it. Me too. We are friends and we talk about everything. He wanted to support me.”

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