Former Barcelona and France defender Eric Abidal has been forced to publicly deny false rumours of his death, after social media was flooded with messages claiming he had passed away.
The 46-year-old was the subject of misleading speculation over the weekend, with some posts even alleging that he had died due to complications from a supposed second liver transplant. Reports from Radio Catalunya noted that condolences poured in for Abidal before he personally intervened to set the record straight.
Abidal responds on Instagram
Abidal dismissed the rumours directly on his Instagram story, writing:
“Some rumours should never exist. I’m here with my family and everything is fine. Respect is key.”
He added:
“Just to clarify – I’m fine, I’m alive and healthy. Thank you for your support. Let’s focus on what really matters. Thank you for your messages of concern.”
Abidal’s health battle and career
Abidal was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2011 and underwent a successful transplant in 2012 while still playing for Barcelona. That same season, he famously returned to the pitch and lifted the Champions League trophy at Wembley, with captain Carles Puyol handing him the armband in a symbolic gesture of support.
After spells with AS Monaco and Olympiakos, Abidal retired in 2014. He later returned to Barcelona, first as an ambassador and then as Sporting Director between 2018 and 2020. Earlier this year, he took on a new role as Sporting Director at Al-Wasl in the United Arab Emirates.
While this is not the first time Abidal has been caught up in false stories, the former defender remains clear: he is very much alive, healthy, and focused on his current role in football.