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Xavi has admitted that hearing the news of Barcelona teammates Eric Abidal's liver tumour was "the worst moment I've ever experienced in a locker room." 

Xavi has admitted that hearing the news of Barcelona teammates Eric Abidal's liver tumour was "the worst moment I've ever experienced in a locker room."

The football world was shocked to learn of Abidal's plight on Tuesday, with the 31-year-old undergoing a three-hour operation on Thursday to remove the tumour.

Barca have since confirmed the opertion, performed by Dr Josep Fuster Obregon at the BarnaClinic Grup Hospital Clinic in the Catalan city, was deemed a success and there were no complications.

"Depending on his progress, the player could be allowed to leave hospital within a week," read a club statement.

"By the express desire of the player, the club ask for the maximum respect for his right to privacy and confidentiality."

A host of high-profile names have passed on their best wishes to the striken French defender including Cesc Fabregas, Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo, while Barca's arch rivals Real Madrid paid a poignant tribute to Abidal by dawning T-shirts bearing his name after their midweek Champions League clash against Lyon.

His Barca team-mates have also been quick to rally round, with midfield playmaker Xavi saying: "He's a strong person, mentally one of the strongest I know and an example to everyone in the locker room.

"We encouraged him and he was just like he always is, he gave us encouragement. He'll beat this. We were surprised how good of a state he is in. He told us 'that that's life'."

And Xavi concedes that the bombshell news hit the team harder than any hurdle they have faced in their careers, but has backed them to be even stronger for theexperience which does not bode well for their rivals.

"It's probably the strongest hit we've ever taken. It was the worst moment I've ever experienced in a locker room," Xavi said.

"We're going to make sure this unites us more than ever. When averse situations happen to a collective, it helps unite them and that's what we're going to do: try to let it affect us the least amount possible. Life goes on."