Transfer Centre

Barcelona 'decide against sacking sporting director Eric Abidal'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 18 August 2020

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu reportedly decides against sacking sporting director Eric Abidal in the wake of the club's 8-2 Champions League defeat to Bayern.

Barcelona have reportedly decided against sacking sporting director Eric Abidal in the wake of the club's humiliating Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich.

The Spanish giants are expected to undergo a major club-wide overhaul after a trophyless campaign, with the board's positions among those to have come under particular scrutiny.

Manager Quique Setien has already been sacked, and Abidal has also taken much of the blame for Barca's plight after a string of expensive signings - including £100m+ arrivals Ousmane Dembele, Philippe Coutinho and Antoine Griezmann - failed to impress.

However, Spanish radio station Cadena Cope reports that Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu has decided to keep Abidal in his current role as he believes the Frenchman will play an important part in the short-term rebuild.

A number of high-profile players are thought to available for transfer and Abidal is expected to work with the new manager - rumoured to be Ronald Koeman - to oversee that period of change.

Abidal had a public fallout with talisman and captain Lionel Messi earlier this season after suggesting that some of the players were responsible for Ernesto Valverde's January sacking.