Barcelona Denies Former President Bought Eric Abidal Illegal Liver for Transplant

FC Barcelona have publicly denied claims that they illegally obtained an organ donor for Eric Abidal’s liver transplant back in 2012.
Back in 2012, official statement was that the liver was sourced from Abidal’s cousin, Gerard, but a report during the week appears to rubbish Barcelona’s claim.
 El Confidential leaked transcripts of supposed phone calls between former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell and an unknown person, alleged to have taken place back in 2017.
In such transcripts, Rossell (who was arrested last year for money laundering) admits that he bought the liver off the black market.
“We bought an illegal liver from this guy, and we sold it was from his cousin, it was from the cousin! We paid him two years of contract, what he had left,” reveals that unknown speaker, followed by a response of agreement from Rossell: “Yes, yes, yes.”

Of course, these claims are nothing more than claims, and nothing more has been made of it all as of yet, but the club have chosen to release a statement on the matter.
“FC Barcelona denies any irregular fact in liver transplantation as it has done the interested party and the Hospital Clinic.”
“The information disseminated omits a transcendent event such as the file of this case by a court in Barcelona, dated May 18, a circumstance that harms the honour of Eric Abidal, of all the organisations linked to transplants, Barcelona and former president Sandro Rosell.”
Eric Abidal released a statement himself, condemning the reports:
My cousin Gerard donated his liver to save my life and for this I am truly grateful to him,” he said on Twitter.
“Existing procedures and protocols were followed at all times and all the medical documentation that proves so is available.”
Barcelona added: “The club are saddened by the lack of rigor in the spreading of such information about such a sensitive issue.”