Abidal to leave Barca

Eric Abidal will be leaving FC Barcelona after six trophy-laden seasons and having fought back from a liver tumour and a liver transplant to play again.

Abidal, who will turn 34 in July, said on Thursday that he would have liked to continue playing for the Catalans. He made his playing return from his liver transplant in April.

"Football for me is a passion since I was a child. I don't see myself quitting now. I have made all this effort to come back to play football. My health is better now. When my body tells me to stop I will hang up the boots."

“I have played here for six years, and it’s been the biggest experience of my life. I had two aims – to fight to be able to see my two daughters grow up and to play again"

"I would have liked to keep on playing here, but the club sees it differently and I have to respect that."

"I am going but I am sure that I will be back. have a very interesting offer from the club that I will have to think about."

"The most important thing right now is my last game. Let's see if my coach plays me and I can have some minutes."

Goodbye and fare well you legend you

Abidal is not leaving through the back door like some of our legends in the past but it still doesn't feel right.

Thank you Abi!! I wish him all the best. His desire to keep play is amazing, I can't imagine many of people will still want to play football after all what he passed through. Glad that he said he will be back.

Thank you Abi! You are an example to all of us. Hope to see you back soon.

You are a Barcelona legend.

I'll miss you legend, good luck wherever you go next!

True inspiration you... Wish you a great life, filled with joy and happiness

Good luck to a lightening symbol, hope we'll see him back soon !

hopefully barca give this legend a role as club ambasador when he finally retires

Should have had one more season. Rosell penny pinching again?

Showed courage on and off the field, and will be sorely missed.

Hope to see him back at our club one day, in some other capacity.

A great example to us all. A gentleman, and true hero.

You will always have us on your side.

The King.

you guys think abidals situation could have influened valdes decision to leave?

Bojan said:

Abidal is not leaving through the back door like some of our legends in the past but it still doesn't feel right.

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Kind of feels like he is. He made a remarkable comeback and even started showing strength on the pitch again (something we severely lack at the moment). What does the club do? Sorry Eric, we have to let you go. Uhhhh....

Pepe Silvia said:

Kind of feels like he is. He made a remarkable comeback and even started showing strength on the pitch again (something we severely lack at the moment). What does the club do? Sorry Eric, we have to let you go. Uhhhh....

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He did not manage to finish his last game and came off at half time did he not?

They clearly think he has not future at the top level anymore.