Abidal recovering well after liver transplant
Reuters - Wednesday 11 April 2012, 12:00
Barcelona defender Eric Abidal
is recovering well after a liver transplant, his wife Hayet said
in a statement posted on the player's official Facebook page on
Wednesday.
The France international underwent a lengthy operation on
Tuesday which finished at about midnight, just after Barca's 4-0
La Liga victory at home to Getafe during which the whole stadium
chanted Abidal's name and applauded the full-back.
"Hi Everybody, I'm Hayet Abidal, Eric's wife. I'm writing
you, today, on his facebook page, on his request," she wrote.
"Eric and his cousin Gerard [the donor] have indeed been
operated yesterday in Barcelona and for the moment, everything
is ok!
"He really wants to thank all of you for your messages, your
support and all the strength you give him! Thanks a lot."
Earlier on Wednesday, Barcelona president Sandro Rosell had
given the first news on how the 32-year-old was doing as he
recovered in hospital.
"Today could be a great one all round, because we know that
Abidal and his cousin are recovering well after the operation,"
Rosell said.
"I can't say anything more than this because the family have
specifically asked us not to say any more."
Abidal's Barca team-mate, Spain midfielder Sergio Busquets,
wished him all the best when he spoke at a news conference after
training on Wednesday.
"The operation is over and the next few hours are very
important," he said. "In two or three days we'll see how it is
all going.
"From here I went to send him all the very best, as everyone
else has been doing."
Abidal had surgery to remove a tumour from his liver last
March before making a triumphant and emotional return to lift
the Champions League trophy at Wembley just two months later.
Last month, the club said Abidal would need a transplant but
did not say how long he would be out of action.