BARCELONA HAVE CONFIRMED that Eric Abidal will be required to undergo a liver transplant.
The French international defender had surgery last March when a tumour was found on his liver but made a remarkable return to feature in the club’s Champions League final win over Manchester United and has played 20 La Liga games for the Catalan giants this season.
In a statement on their official website this morning, the club said: “During the next few weeks, the player will undergo a liver transplant as a result of the progress of his liver disease.
A transplant was considered an option from the start of his treatment a year ago. At the express wishes of the player, the Club asks that the maximum respect for the player’s privacy be observed.”
It is unknown how long the 32-year-old will be out of action for but the former Lyon player is now a serious doubt to play any part in France’s Euro 2012 involvement.
