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.