Eric Abidal excited for Monaco future

French left-back Eric Abidal has admitted that he is delighted to have made the return to his old club Monaco on a free transfer.

The long-awaited deal was wrapped up yesterday, and the former Barcelona man said that he is now focusing on returning his new team to the Champions League.

"Bringing experience and helping the young players is what I have done my whole career," Sky Sports News quotes Abidal as saying. "I am very happy to be able to do it here. Monaco is special to me; it is where it all started for me. It was my first choice.

"I had to fight against disease. Now the most important thing is to put Monaco in a position to win the national title again and play in the Champions League."

Abidal previously played for Monaco between 2000 and 2002.