Former Barcelona defender Eric Abidal has conceded that he thought he had ‘no hope’ of returning to the French national team.
The 33-year-old left Camp Nou this summer to sign for Monaco, and was swiftly named in Didier Deschamps’ Les Bleus squad for the friendly with Belgium on Wednesday.
And the veteran has admitted that the news came as a big shock.
“I thought I had no hope of returning after what I’d been through over the past two years,” he told a Press conference.
“But I am very proud to come back and wear the shirt.
“I am happy and enjoying life. After what’s happened, I am just delighted to be able to be on the field.”
