Barcelona sack sporting director Eric Abidal

Barcelona have sacked sporting director Eric Abidal just one day after relieving Quique Setien of his duties as manager.

Abidal made 193 appearances for Barcelona as a player before returning to the club in June 2018, but the Catalan giants are now set to undergo a significant reshuffle ahead of next season.

Setien lost his job in the dugout following Barca's 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter finals, and now Abidal has faced the axe after a turbulent campaign.

A statement released by Barcelona read: "The FC Barcelona and Eric Abidal have reached an agreement for the termination of the contract binding both parties.

"The Club publicly expresses its gratitude to Eric Abidal for the professionalism, commitment, dedication and positive and close treatment that he has always shown towards all the estates that make up the Barca family, and wishes him luck and success in the future."

Abidal experienced some animosity with Barcelona captain Lionel Messi following Ernesto Valverde's sacking in January, and the six-time Ballon d'Or winner has also seen his future at Camp Nou called into question recently.

Meanwhile, Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu has confirmed that Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman is set to become Setien's successor in the Blaugrana dugout.