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Eric Abidal's career at "Barcelona", which lasted for eleven years with breaks, has ended, according to the Catalan sports newspaper "El Mundo Deportivo".
According to the publication, on Thursday the footballer will hold a press conference with "Barcelona" president Sandro Rosell to explain his decision.
Unofficial information suggests that the 33-year-old Frenchman does not hide his desire to continue playing, but it seems that health problems have prevented him from playing at the highest level and the player simply does not meet the requirements set by "Barcelona" for defenders.
It is said that E. Abidal should return to "Barça" after finishing his professional career. He will likely be offered the position of ambassador for the Catalan club.
In 2007, "Barcelona" acquired E. Abidal from Lyon Olympique for 15 million euros. The Frenchman replaced the departed veteran, Sylvinho, at the Catalan club.
The defender's health problems began in the spring of 2011, when the Catalan club announced shocking news - a tumor was found in E. Abidal's liver. The player was soon operated on and managed to recover in time for the Champions League final, where "Barcelona" defeated "Manchester United". After the victory, the team's friends allowed the Frenchman to be the first to lift the trophies won.
In the 2011-2012 season, E. Abidal started as usual with the team, however, in March of last year it was reported that the cancerous tumor in the player's liver had returned and he would have to undergo a liver transplant operation. E. Abidal's half-brother, Gerard, donated a portion of his liver to him. In April 2012, the player underwent a successful surgical intervention and received a donor liver implant.
Since then, being constantly monitored by "Barcelona" doctors, E. Abidal began a long and very complicated rehabilitation process. Only in December 2012 was the defender allowed to resume full physical training.
