Dani Alves confirms Abidal liver gesture

Posted Tuesday, September 24, 2013 by Goal.com

The Brazil full-back says he would have done anything to help his former team-mate as he struggled with health problems

Dani Alves has confirmed he offered to donate parts of his liver to Eric Abidal during the Monaco star's battle with cancer.

The pair formed a firm friendship while they played alongside one another at Barcelona and Abidal recently revealed that the Brazilian had made the ultimate gesture of offering to sacrifice a portion of the organ to help get him back to full health.

In an interview with Lance, Alves has revealed he did indeed make the offer to the Frenchman and insists the welfare of his former team-mate was more important than potentially putting his own football career at risk.

The 30-year-old said: "My desire was only to help, because of the admiration I have for Eric, for the love I have for his family. When a life is at stake, the game remains in the background.

"Clearly there was a risk. It's not quite true thatI would have to leave football for the donation. There was a risk, but when a life is at stake, football is not important."

"From God I have the strength and intelligence to have alternatives and can live even without football. If I had to do that (donate part of his liver) to save a life, God would open other doors."

Abidal's cousin Gerard came to the defender's rescue by donating part of his liver in April 2012, but the Frenchman wasn't offered a new deal by Barcelona after returning to full fitness at the end of last season.

However, several clubs across Europe made a move for his services, with the 30-year-old eventually deciding to join Monaco on a free transfer earlier this summer.