Barcelona deny claims former president bought illegal liver for Eric Abidal

Barcelona have denied claims that former president Sandro Rosell illegally bought a liver for Eric Abidal

Abidal, the former French international, played for Barca between 2007 and 2013. He underwent a transplant in 2012 after a tumour was discovered in his liver. Reports from Spain have claimed Rosell, who was arrested last year for money-laundering, bought the organ on the black market. El Confidencial went as far as saying that Spanish police intercepted phone calls from Rosell to an unknown person in which he implicitly admits to purchasing an illegal liver. In response, Barca have made it clear that they deny such claims. Abidal, who is now the club's technical secretary, has also moved to deny the reports, as has the Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, where the transplant took place. "There was no type of irregularity in the player's liver transplant," Barca have said. "We have complete confidence in the Hospital Clinic and don't doubt Abidal's honour or that of his foundation." Abidal made his comeback for Barcelona in April 2013 before leaving the club to play for Monaco that same summer. He moved to Olympiacos in Greece the following year. Despite inking a two-year deal, he decided to retire later that year. He started his new role at the Camp Nou last month, replacing Roberto Fernanez.