Abidal: Barca didn’t want the risk

Eric Abidal has reflected further on his exit from Barcelona, to suggest that the Catalans didn’t want to risk giving the Frenchman a new deal.

After a season in which he battled back to full fitness after a liver transplant, the defender will be leaving the Camp Nou, after the club determined not to renew his contract.

“They considered it a risk that something may have happened to me, they did not want to assume the supposed responsibility,” Abidal told El Mundo today.

“I have no grudge, with what I have experienced I cannot allow myself to think about anything negative.

“The offer to return [in a non-playing role] is a luxury for me, but when I retire.

“I will continue to play so long as my doctors give me permission. I believe this is not the time to quit, I intend to play on until I am 35.

“I would have liked to have continued and this is not what I thought would happen, but I leave with good memories. Barcelona has been my second family.

“I am an optimistic person – when I had the surgery, the hardest game of my life was in coming back.”

Yesterday saw Abidal concede his irritation at Barca’s decision not to stick with him.

Tags Abidal
La Liga - Club News