BARCELONA — Barcelona defender Eric Abidal will have a liver transplant in the next few weeks, the Spanish soccer giant announced Thursday.
Abidal underwent surgery in March last year to remove a tumor from his liver before returning to help the team defeat Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League final.
The French international, 32, signed a new contract at Barca after overcoming the cancer scare and was a regular member of the starting lineup this season until suffering a hip injury while on international duty earlier this month.
But the team confirmed the left-back will be sidelined for longer after being advised to undergo the emergency surgery.
“In the coming weeks, the player will undergo a liver transplant,” Barca confirmed Thursday. “The transplant was an option which was indicated from the start of his treatment a year ago.”