Eric Abidal

2.3.1. Arrival and Initial Impact

Abidal made his La Liga debut on August 26, 2007, in a goalless away draw against Racing de Santander. He concluded his first season with 30 league appearances as Barcelona finished in third place. Despite becoming a starter for the Pep Guardiola-led side, Abidal faced suspensions that led him to miss significant matches. He was controversially red-carded in the 2009 Champions League semi-final against Chelsea for a foul on countryman Nicolas Anelka, which the referee deemed a denial of a scoring opportunity, though video evidence suggested minimal contact. This suspension prevented him from playing in the 2009 Champions League final against Manchester United. Furthermore, another suspension meant he did not participate in the decisive match of the Copa del Rey final, which Barcelona went on to win as part of their historic treble.

Even with the arrival of Maxwell in 2009-10, Abidal maintained his starting position at left-back. He scored his first goal for Barcelona on January 5, 2011, netting a crucial equalizer at the San Mamés Stadium in a Copa del Rey last-16 second leg match against Athletic Bilbao, which resulted in a 1-1 draw and Barcelona's qualification on the away goals rule. His second goal for the club also came in the domestic cup on January 18, 2012, helping Barcelona come from behind to secure a 2-1 victory against Real Madrid in the quarter-final first leg, ultimately winning 4-3 on aggregate. He renewed his contract early in the following month, extending his stay at the Camp Nou until June 30, 2013.

2.3.2. Health Issues and Recovery

On March 15, 2011, FC Barcelona announced that Abidal had been diagnosed with a tumour in his liver, and he underwent surgery two days later. The club, respecting his wishes for privacy, did not release further details about his condition. In response to the news, players and fans worldwide expressed their support, with numerous well-wishes shared on social media and sports websites. During the 2010-11 UEFA Champions League round-of-16 match between Real Madrid and Lyon, both teams' players wore "Ánimo Abidal" (Get Well Abidal) T-shirts, and the message was displayed on the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium's scoreboards as a show of solidarity. At Barcelona's league match against Getafe CF on March 19, 2011, fans clapped for the entire 22nd minute, honoring his kit number.

In a remarkable display of resilience, Abidal played the full 90 minutes of Barcelona's 3-1 triumph over Manchester United in the 2011 UEFA Champions League Final on May 28, 2011. In a deeply moving gesture, captain Carles Puyol handed him his armband and allowed Abidal to be the first to lift the trophy in front of 85,000 spectators at Wembley Stadium in London, celebrating his incredible recovery.

However, on March 15, 2012, it was announced that Abidal would require a liver transplant due to unresolved issues from his previous operation. The surgery took place on April 10, with his cousin Gérard serving as the donor. On the same day, Barcelona defeated Getafe 4-0, a victory which Guardiola and the team dedicated to Abidal in the post-game press conference. Abidal later revealed that his friend and teammate Dani Alves had offered to donate a part of his liver, an offer Abidal declined to avoid impacting Alves's playing career.

Abidal was discharged from the hospital on May 21, 2012. He began training again in the Pyrenees in October 2012, though he stated in November that his priority was to fully recover his health rather than immediately resuming his football career. On December 18, 2012, he was officially cleared to return to training, and he rejoined active team training in January 2013. Doctors who oversaw his recovery described his return to professional football as a "miracle," noting that their initial goal was simply to restore him to a normal life. Abidal himself recounted the immense pain he endured during his struggle, stating that he underwent four or five surgeries in a short period, lost 42 lb ^{(19 kg)} in weight, and at one point, the pain was so unbearable that he asked doctors to put him in a coma.

2.3.3. Return to Play and Final Season

On March 19, 2013, Abidal played 65 minutes for FC Barcelona B in a practice match against FC Istres, marking his first competitive action since his transplant. His official return to professional play came on April 6, 2013, when he replaced Gerard Piqué for the final 20 minutes of a 5-0 home victory against RCD Mallorca. Just two weeks later, he played the full 90 minutes for the first time since his comeback, contributing to a 1-0 home success over Levante UD. Despite his remarkable return to the field, Barcelona announced on May 30, 2013, that his contract would not be further extended, leading to his departure from the club.