The 35-year-old, who played for Barcelona between 2007 and 2013, was diagnosed with the disease in March 2011, during Barcelona’s victorious run in the Champions League.

The Frenchman returned to be a part of the winning team against Manchester United at Wembley to lift the trophy, but a check up after the game revealed the cancer had returned.

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Abidal was told that only a liver transplant would save his life, which was when one of his Barcelona team-mates offered to step in.

"My Barcelona team-mate Dani Alves offered me his liver," Abidal told the Daily Mail.

"He was serious but I could never have accepted it. He also has a family and a career.

“It is a massive operation and it was too much."

Eric Abidal Image credit: Eurosport

As it turned out, Abidal’s cousin Gerard was a match and he ended up saving the defender’s life by donating his liver.

Abidal revealed that he refused to let his Barcelona players see him in hospital as he did not want them to realise exactly what he was going through.

"For seven months, I didn't do anything. I had no strength. It was draining. No sport, no training,” he said.

“There were dark days - I was terrified that I would never be able to play again. I would wake up and barely have the strength to move a muscle.

"I didn't let the Barca players come to the hospital. I didn't want people to see me like that."

After being out of competitive action for 13 months following the re-diagnosis, Abidal retired having played for short spells with Monaco and Olympiakos to end his career.