"He was serious but I could never have accepted it. . "From that moment, you know everything will be a total struggle and everyday life will be complicated, that was when football actually helped me. Something went wrong, please try again later. "He was serious but I could never have accepted it. The 34-year-old Abidal had a liver transplant in 2012, keeping him away from football for a year. Everything is fine. He knows it. said Abidal. He was serious but I could never have accepted it. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, Eric Abidal, left, captains his new club Monaco in the Ligue 1 fixture against Lorient on Sunday. Rafael Benitez: No rift at Real Madrid and Sergio Ramos is part of my plans, Eurosport, a Discovery Company 2022 All rights reserved, Lionel Messi 'could join PSG' as he's done it all at Barca claims Eric Abidal. He added: "For seven months, I didn't do anything. "Every day I remember how hard it was to live with cancer," he intimated. He also has a family and a career. I would wake up and barely have the strength to move a muscle. "Thanks brother" alongside a picture of himself and Alves playing for Barcelona. Jul 18, 2022 08:24 AM "Football was my passion and career, but during this time there isn't much time to think, after my illness it was different, you are just focused on helping other people.". He was serious but I could never have accepted it. http://t.co/0heOlK6bfy. 2022 ABG-SI LLC. Abidal, 34, who now plays for Monaco, was diagnosed with a liver tumour and underwent an operation in March 2011. "Of course, it's completely out of the question because he is a professional footballer. ", Boris Johnson BOOED by MPs as he enters House of Commons. It is as simple as that.'. "The story with Dani goes beyond the jersey," Abidal said. Ex-Barcelona defender Eric Abidal has revealed former team-mate Dani Alves offered him part of his liver when the Frenchman needed a transplant. Check out the latest series of All To Play For, with Joe Cole and special guests. 'That game was an obsession for me. I was in hospital for 42 days. ', Abidal and his daughters have fond memories of the 2011 Champions League final win over Man United, The Eric Abidal Foundation has been over a year in the making, Abidal still has a ticket from that famous night in London and proudly displays it in his office, Abidal's connection to Barcelona is so deep he broke down in tears at hid farewell press conference. Jade Goody's son Bobby Brazier joins cast of EastEnders, Paul Gascoigne 'signs up for new Channel 4 reality show', Jacques O'Neill 'approached for Celebs Go Dating', Swedish streamer Viaplay acquires Premier Sports, Novak Djokovic beats Nick Kyrgios in Wimbledon final. The defender played 193 times for the Catalan club, where he won the La Liga four times, the Copa del Rey twice, the UEFA Super Cup twice, and the UEFA Champions League twice. That is when Alves made an offer which he was forced to turn down. No sport, no training. The genius of football, a phenomenon somebody only God can produce.'. "And besides, he's a very good person. It's bizarre how football players and personalities are often viewed as superhuman figures. "Cancer has changed my life. Abidal kept his promise. He now looks back on his retirement with pride that it was on his terms, and cancer didn't force him to quit the game he loves. 'As a kid, I adored Diego Maradona and my dream was always to play where he had played. Abidal is lifted in the air by his Barca team-mates following their La Liga title triumph in May 2011, 'It was far worse this time. Jul 18, 2022 07:26 PM After reading Dani Alves' fantastic interview with Sid Lowe for The Guardian, we thought it was time to re-share our favourite story of Barca's brilliant Brazilian. 'I didn't let the Barca players come to the hospital. 'My eldest is 11, then I have a nine-year-old and a five-year-old,' said Abidal. My immune system had to accept the new liver. He takes a deep breath, blows out his cheeks and describes with a sense of awe just how strong they were when his body was ravaged by the cancer that tore through his liver; how they tolerated the side effects, particularly the mood swings that accompanied his life-saving transplant, and how his girls were still able to put a smile on his face during the period he calls the most hellish of his life. It is a massive operation and it was too much.. "For seven months, I didn't do anything. 2002: Follows boss Claude Puel to Lille, where he stays for two seasons. No sport, no training," he said. I am a better person. The 34-year-old Abidal had a liver transplant in 2012, keeping him away from football for one year. This is not an unprecedented move for coach Bill Belichick or the franchise. "I have no problem with Barcelona," Abidal said on Sunday. "For seven months, I didn't do anything. You do not forget that you have cancer. Our relationship goes much deeper than friendship. in English Premier League, 7

7th Floor, Media24 Building, 40 Heerengracht Street, Foreshore Cape Town. 2022 Newstalk, Bauer Media Audio Ireland LP, Reg #LP3374. However at the end of the 2011/12 season, it was revealed that he required a liver transplant due to unresolved issues from the previous operation. "I didn't let the Barca players come to the hospital. Copyright 2022. There were dark days - I was terrified that I would never be able to play again. "When I had to undergo surgery, Dani wanted to donate his liver," said Abidal in an interview with. He also has a family and a career. Skittles deemed 'unfit for human consumption', according to new lawsuit, Better Call Saul confirms Gus Fring is gay following new scenes, Quidditch has now changed its name to distance itself from JK Rowling, 'I'm meant to be dead': Woman's hunt for hero who saved her moments before train hit, Dele Alli misses open goal from 3 yards out as Everton hammered by MLS side, Uni graduate left paralysed after chiropractor 'snapped four arteries during a routine visit for neck pain', Top 10 areas in England where youre most likely to catch an STI ranked, How a last-minute phone call stopped Ronaldinho joining Man United, Frenkie de Jong hits out at Barcelona as Man United transfer saga continues, Ousmane Dembele left Barcelona squad 'stunned' with joke after signing new deal, Bara fans think Aubameyang has 'given up' after spotting reaction to Lewandowski arrival, Robert Lewandowski says emotional goodbye to Bayern ahead of Bara move. 15 In case you didn't know, Eric Abidal and Dani Alves are very close friends. ', Former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola had a profound effect on Abidal on and off the pitch. "I remember when they told me about the tumour, and how they didn't know when, but the next step was a transplant," he detailed. Barcelona were on top of the world in 2011, the club was living through one of the greatest periods in their history when all of a sudden Eric Abidal revealed he had a tumour in his liver. Did you know that Dani Alves offered Abidal his liver? Gerard Houllier tried to persuade me to go but Barcelona came in. I did not have chemo but the transplant had its own complications. We are friends and we talk about everything. "At that time, all the players were part of my family.". It brought the group together in a way few could imagine possible, and the Frenchman has even admitted Dani Alves wanted to share part of his own liver. The Barca squad were rocked by the news, but Dani Alves was willing to make an incredible sacrifice as he made a truly extraordinary offer to his friend. Abidal made a playing comeback in April 2013 after his liver transplant, but was released by Spanish champions Barcelona in the summer. Published: 22:06 BST, 5 May 2015 | Updated: 17:39 BST, 6 May 2015. Now retired, Abidal laughed off the possibility of returning to the game, but expressed his delight in bowing out of the sport his way, and not being forced out of it because ofillness. He opens up a drawer and pulls out a photo frame. Support flooded in. I would wake up and barely have the strength to move a muscle. It is a massive operation and it was too much.". "For me, the important thing was that I was able to go on my terms I made the decision, the cancer did not make it for me," he said. I am a better person. It has been over a year in the making and will raise funds to support children fighting cancer while a link has been established with King's College in London. When they told me I had a tumour in my liver, I got a huge shock. I had no strength. He has just launched the Eric Abidal Foundation. Abidal had an operation and, incredibly, returned to the first-team fold within six weeks. Photograph: Sebastien Nogier/EPA. He was my neighbour and his ex-wife and my wife are friends.". SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. He battled back, and played a starring role in the victory over Manchester United at Wembley to lift the European Cup. Panthers head coach rips former assistant, now at Nebraska, for failure to run the ball effectively. He had a transplant in April 2012 with part of an organ donated by his cousin. 'Carles Puyol was captain at Wembley. I just want to enjoy every second.'. It was draining. Then when you lose it, hunt in packs and retrieve it as fast as possible. Cancer has changed my life. He was serious but I could never have accepted it," revealed Abidal. Abidal was part of the Monaco team who beat Lorient 1-0 on Sunday. Developed by Square1 and powered by PublisherPlus.com, Have a tip or something brilliant you wanted to share on? 'I opened it up and thousands of butterflies flew out around my living room. I had no strength. MX23RW : Friday, July 22 03:55:48| >> :120:14471:14471: ID:105187:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:1991: Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox. All rights reserved. I'd always looked after my body. He was serious but I could never have accepted it. He was serious but I could never have accepted it. We played small-sided games in tiny, confined areas at a high intensity to make us think more quickly. Abidal twice managed to beat cancer and had a successful liver transplant with his cousin Gerard acting as a donor. I had no strength. There were dark days - I was terrified that I would never be able to play again. 'The risk for Gerard was huge. The cancer had returned with a vengeance and he would now require a liver transplant. Jul 21, 2022 09:01 AM I had the chance to sign in 2006, when Rafa Benitez was manager. PSL Big Hitters Join Race For Lekay After Chiefs Snub. Alves, who played alongside the defender at Barcelona, took over Abidal's vacated number 22 as a mark of respect following his summer transfer to Monaco, but the French international says that their friendship is deeper than that. Jul 20, 2022 10:48 AM After another 13 months of treatment, Abidal eventually returned to football, playing a full season with Monaco in Ligue 1 before finishing his career at Olympiacos. 2014: Joins Olympiacos but plays just seven games before announcing retirement.. PLAYER RATINGS: 85m signing Darwin Nunez shows what he's about with FOUR goals in one half while JOE BERNSTEIN: Dele Alli's latest gaffe epitomises the malaise affecting him and Everton. He was sitting at home when a package arrived from the Far East. Abidal's struggle was no different, however, the former French international has made clear just how difficult it was to focus on his health as opposed to football, breaking the cycle he'd been living in throughout his career.