Abidal could return to football, says doctor

01/06/2012 4:55:00 PM

Previous reports suggested that the French defender was set to retire after undergoing a liver transplant, but he could now make a comeback after all

Juan Carlos Garcia-Valdecasas, the doctor who operated on Eric Abidal, has stated that the Barcelona defender could one day return to football field.

Abidal underwent a liver transplant in April and it was initially thought that the surgery would spell the end of the 32-year-old's career.

However, a comeback now seems to be a realistic option following Garcia-Valdecasas' latest comments.

"It's up to him. I wouldn't stop him. Time will tell. If Eric responds well, there is no reason why he shouldn't," Garcia-Valdecasas said to TV3.

"The liver is an organ that regenerates in three months. Abidal has to recover little by little, but between three and six months, or up to a year after the intervention, the patient is able to have a normal life.

"He is always in high spirits. He is a very positive character, it is tremendous. He has never complained about anything."

Abidal has made 120 Liga appearances for Barcelona since joining the Catalans from Olympique Lyonnais in the summer of 2007.

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