Solidarity of the real kind

AbidalAlves

September 17 – Football is not always highlighted for humanitarian gestures between professionals, hence the interest generated by the relevation from Monaco captain Eric Abidal that his former Barcelona teammate Dani Alves offered to donate part of his liver when the French international needed a transplant last year.

Abidal told Catalunya Radio: “When I had to undergo surgery, Dani wanted to donate his liver. Logically, he couldn’t because he is a professional footballer.”

Abidal was eventually assisted by his own cousin, forcing him out of football for a year. He returned to make a few more appearances for Barcelona before leaving in the summer to join Monaco.

Brazilian rightback Alves, who played with Abidal at the Nou Camp for five years, now sports the old number 22 shirt Abidal used to wear.

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