Barca Deny Former Prez Rosell Illegally Bought Liver for Abidal

Barcelona have denied that the club's former president Sandro Rosell bought a liver illegally in order to allow former defender Eric Abidal to undergo a transplant.

Abidal had a transplant in 2012 after doctors discovered a tumour in his liver.

A report from Spanish outlet El Confidencial has alleged that Rosell purchased the liver ahead of the surgery, utilising the black market.

It is alleged that Spanish police have tapped Rosell's phone, and intercepted text messages relating to the apparent crime. Rosell was arrested in 2017 for money laundering.

Barcelona, though, have issued a robust denial of the allegations, a statement reading: "Given the information published today in relation to the transplant to which the current technical secretary of the first football team Eric Abidal was subjected, FC Barcelona categorically denies any irregular in the matter, as has already been done by the interested party and those responsible for the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona."