«It’s not a fairy tale, it’s a perfect night: for the ones who love football, friendship and good feelings. It’s not a fairytale, it’s a story with an happy ending. It’s the story of a football team who creates poetry with the ball, of a rival team who accepts the verdict without touching on a defence. It’s the story, above all, of a young man who had felt lost and now becomes the emblem of hope. FC Barcelona invents magic and goals: Pedro, Messi, Villa. The only obstacle is Rooney’s tenacity. It’s not enough. The football team trained by Guardiola wins its second Champions League trophy in three years. It’s a triumph, and the best is yet to come. The young man whose name is Eric Abidal was not in Rome two years ago, disqualified. And he risked not to be here too, but due to a worse problem: two months and 10 days ago had surgery because of a liver tumor. But today is tenured of the consecration. Xavi, who was the captain of the team tonight, gives the armband to Puyol, historical captain of this team, who entered the pitch just to make history. But he looks around. There is someone who deserves that armband more than he does. He gives it to Abidal. Named captain for one night, receives the Cup from Platini and lifts it to the sky. Then he bursts into tears, in Xavi’s arms. And we don’t need words anymore.»

#MerciAbidal !