Barcelona defender Eric Abidal diagnosed with liver tumor

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Eric Abidal, defender for the FC Barcelona team, has been diagnosed with a liver tumor and will undergo surgery Friday, the Spanish club said Tuesday.

The operation will be performed by Dr. Josep Fuster Obregon at the Hospital Clinic de Barcelona.

The club did not say when the soccer player, who is a French native, will return to playing.

Abidal joined FC Barcelona in the summer of 2007. According to the team’s website, ‘in the 2009-10 season [Abidal] reached a peak of form, made some great goal assists’ yet sustained injuries. In all, he played 17 games in the league and 8 in the Champions League.

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