Abidal on return, Barca future

Eric Abidal has reaffirmed that he has no set date to return to playing, but that he intends to see out his career with Barcelona.

The French defender has been out of action since undergoing a liver transplant in April as part of his recovery from having surgery the previous year on a tumour discovered on the organ.

The 33-year-old has been given the medical all-clear to return to full training, but confirmed in an interview with former club Lyon’s official television channel that there is no rush for him.

“I had a difficult time. I struggled, but being surrounded by my friends and family…you must have strength and I hope that the disease will not affect me any more,” he told OLTV today.

“It changes you… I have made a gradual recovery with work in the mountains, then on the pitch away from my teammates… I got the green light to return a while ago.

“I’m training on a daily basis, I have no specific goal of recovery. My body will decide, you should not rush.”

Abidal was linked with a return to French football over a year ago, with Paris Saint-Germain reportedly tracking the defender.

“I am in Barcelona and I want to finish there. It is true that PSG was interested in me a while ago, but my family is settled in Barcelona. My contract does not end in 2013, I will continue to fight.”

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