Abidal, cherished at Camp Nou

During the press conferences ahead of Barcelona's Champions League match against Viktoria Pilzen (8.45pm, local stations), Eric Abidal stood up to leave as Sergi Nogueras, the team's media chief, started to announce the timetable to reporters. Abidal remained at his side, repeating everything word for word. "And at 5.30, [Barça coach Pep] Guardiola will speak," concluded Nogueras. "The míster! Don't be late or they'll fine you," exclaimed a smiling Abidal.

"He never stops," says Xavi Hernández. "When he's not singing, he's dancing or hiding something from someone. He never stops making us laugh."

In Barça's first European outing under Guardiola, in September 2008, Abidal spoke out about a team recovering from post-Ronaldinho depression. He lamented that the team was not united and suggested they go out together more. Three years, 40 Champions League matches and at least three barbecues at Abidal's house later, Abidal now says that when he opens the door to the locker room it is like an annex of his home. "The team is my other family."

It was Abidal who lifted his teammates when a tumor was detected on his liver last March. "I just calmed them down, as I did with my family and my parents. I needed everyone to help me to be positive." In a gesture of the esteem in which Abidal is held at Camp Nou, when Barça won the Champions League in May, he was handed the captain's armband and was the first to lift the trophy.

Guardiola swiftly discovered that Abidal is a unique person. In one of his first games at Camp Nou he decided not to substitute his defender even though he was having a terrible game. "I knew that if I took him off we'd lose him for the season," the coach admitted at the time. He left him on the field and there Abidal remains, a fundamental piece of an unrepeatable team.

"Not only is he strong, he also maintains a very high level of concentration," notes Atlético coach Gregorio Manzano.

"He understands the game and physically he's a miracle," says Guardiola, who followed the advice of Didier Deschamps, who coached Abidal at Monaco, to play him in the center of defense.

"He helps me all the time, to apply pressure and attack. He always talks to me to correct my position," says David Villa.

"Physically he's tremendous, because he's quick, agile... a beast," adds Carles Puyol. "But he's also a very good player, it's amazing to watch him."

According to Xavi: "Eric is fantastic, excellent in everything. In the locker room he is a cheerful guy, altruistic, friendly and always thinking about the group. He's also a great player and technically perfect at bringing the ball out of defense. What's really incredible is that the problem he had with his liver hasn't changed him at all. He's still the same, with the same humor off the field and the same reliability on it."

"He inspires me in so many things," says Dani Alves. "Even before the operation I had immense admiration for him."

Two Champions League trophies, three Liga titles and a King's Cup later, Abidal - who after being diagnosed sold all his cars and donated the money to charities working for children with illnesses and every year accompanies his daughters to deliver clothes and toys to needy youngsters - is now deliberating what to do next. He is adamant that he will remain in Barcelona but is unsure whether he will accept the club's offer of a contract extension. "I don't want to mislead anyone," the defender, who has tests every two weeks to evaluate his liver, says.

On Monday Abidal explained that as he has been in Spain for five years the tax deductions on his contract will be raised. "The problem is one of taxes and of duration, but we will have a meeting on Thursday; I'm sure we'll reach an agreement," he said, smiling.