Eric Abidal: Barcelona part company with sporting director 24 hours after sacking head coach Quique Setien

Abidal becomes latest high profile exit at Camp Nou.
AFP via Getty Images
Tony Mogan18 August 2020

Barcelona have parted company with sporting director Eric Abidal.

Abidal, who won the Champions League with the club twice as a player, leaves after two years in the role.

A short statement read: “FC Barcelona and Éric Abidal have reached an agreement for the ending of the contract that united the two parties.

“The club would publicly like to thank Éric Abidal for his professionalism, commitment, dedication and the close and positive nature of his relationship with all aspects of the blaugrana family.”

Abidal follows Qique Setien out of the Nou Camp with the head coach dismissed from his duties on Monday night.

The exits follow a dreadful campaign for the Catalan giants which culminated in a humiliating Champions League exit to Bayern Munich last Friday.

Another former Barca defender in Ronald Koeman remains the favourite to replace Setien. The Dutchman has spent the last few days in Catalonia, but the announcement of his arrival will have to wait as negotiations continue with Koeman and the Dutch Football Federation (KNVB).

Barcelona’s presidential elections have also been brought forward from next summer to March 2021, the Catalan club announced on Monday.