Former FC Barcelona defender Eric Abidal has spoken for the first time ever since bowing out of Catalonia. Abidal talked about former teammate Lionel Messi and his future.
Abidal who spent six seasons with the Blaugrana from 2007 to 2013, likewise returned to the club to manage the executive side.
The Frenchman was the club’s technical secretary back in 2018. However, following the 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich made him stepped down from his activities in 2020.
But today, speaking to The Telegraph in a latest interview he has opened about a lot of things. From his relationship with Lionel Messi, to approaching Mauricio Pochettino to coach the club and pursuing Neymar back to Barcelona.
Eric Abidal speaking his mind on Messi and Leicester City:
Abidal and Messi played alongside each other during the most entertaining era of the club’s history. But having said that, after the sacking of Ernesto Valverde, a public dispute fell out between the two.
Nevertheless Abidal spoke about the same,
“Messi spoke to me personally as well. I also understand Messi is the captain and he wanted to defend the squad. I don’t have to fix anything with Messi, our relationship has not changed from my point of view.”
Moreover, following the dismissal of Valverde and hoping for a ray of change he said,
“In December 2018, I recommended that we should change Ernesto Valverde. Instead, he took the decision to renew the contract of the coach two months later – the opposite of what I had suggested.”
“I told the board ‘I have to bring the best coach we can in the market’. On my list was Mauricio Pochettino, Quique Setien, Max Allegri and Xavi Hernandez.”
In addition, he talked over the Neymar and Paris Saint-Germain situation,
“Ten days before the end of the transfer window, I went to Paris to talk with Leonardo (PSG’s sporting director). If we didn’t sign Antoine Griezmann before, I think 100 per cent we could have re-signed Neymar.”
The latter also described his liking for the Foxes, Leicester City,
“Around the world, Leicester City is one of the clubs I am really impressed with. The atmosphere internally in the club is very positive as well and everybody feels comfortable and they are taking good decisions.”
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