The pair formed a firm friendship while they played alongside one another at Barcelona and Abidal recently revealed that the Brazilian had made the ultimate gesture of offering to sacrifice a portion of the organ to help get him back to full health.
In an interview with Lance, Alves has revealed he did indeed make the offer to the Frenchman and insists the welfare of his former team-mate was more important than potentially putting his own football career at risk.
The 30-year-old said: "My desire was only to help, because of the admiration I have for Eric, for the love I have for his family. When a life is at stake, the game remains in the background.
Clearly there was a risk. It's not quite true thatI would have to leave football for the donation. There was a risk, but when a life is at stake, football is not important.
From God I have the strength and intelligence to have alternatives and can live even without football. If I had to do that donate part of his liver to save a life, God would open other doors.
