Rosell: Abidal Back Early Next Year

Barcelona - Barcelona defender Eric Abidal, currently undergoing health recovery process. The French defender is believed to be able to return to the gridiron at the beginning of next year.

Abidal to undergo liver transplantation after surgical removal of the tumor in the last year it still remains a problem. For liver transplants, the cousin Abidal willing to be a donor. The operation had been carried out in April.

Abidal now it has left the hospital. But, he still had to undergo regular check-ups.

Former Lyon's players had expressed his belief could comeback in December. However, Barca president, Sandro Rosell, assessing new Abidal will recover in the next month.


"We know this is very difficult for him., But he gets full support from us," said Rosell was quoted as saying Football Espana.

"I am very confident Abidal could return to the field in January or February 2013," he said.

Abidal's absence did not really affect the relative strength of Barca. The Catalans still have a new recruit Adriano and Jordi Alba.