La Liga giants, Barcelona has named Eric Abidal as their sporting director for the 2018-19 season. He will be replacing Robert Fernandez whose contract is due to expire at the end of June said the Calatan giants in a statement released on Thursday. Robert faced a lot of criticism after Neymar left the club last year in a world-record transfer to PSG.
Abidal played for Barcelone between 2007 and 2013, though serious illness and a subsequent liver transplant curtailed his involvement towards the end of his spell. The former France international became a Barcelona ambassador in 2017 and will now take over from Robert.
[BREAKING NEWS] @EAbidalOfficial will be the new first team technical secretary at FC Barcelona. More details ? https://t.co/6nWHlp2VNv
— FC Barcelona ?? (@FCBarcelona) June 7, 2018
“Barcelona announces that Robert Fernandez will not extend his contract as the football first team technical secretary which runs out on June 30 of this year. The club would like to thank Robert Fernandez publicly for his commitment and dedication to Barcelona over the years and wishes him success in the future,” the LaLiga champions said in a statement. Abidal will be presented as the new Barcelona sporting director on July 18, the club added.