Barca’s Abidal to have liver transplant

Messages of support have been flooding in for Eric Abidal following the news that the Barcelona defender is to undergo a liver transplant.

Team-mates, opposition players and fellow athletes have wished Abidal the best after Barca confirmed yesterday afternoon that the Frenchman would have a transplant in the coming weeks, a year after having liver surgery to remove a tumour.

The reigning Spanish and European champions did not give any indication how long the 32-year-old would be out of action for.