Abidal: “Barça is my second family”

The Frenchman has signed an extension to his contract for one more season, until June 30, 2013. The agreement includes the possibility of an extension until 2015. The buyout clause of 45 million euros remains intact.



On Friday at 13.00, Éric Abidal signed a new contract with FC Barcelona. The Frenchman and the president of FC Barcelona Sandro Rosell sealed the agreement in the club offices, also in the presence of the vice president for sport Josep Maria Bartomeu and the director of the Sports Area Andoni Zubizarreta.

The agreement extends his contract by one more season, until June 30, 2013, and includes the possibility of an extension until 2015.

Abidal is happy to be in Barcelona. "I have always said that I'd like to stay and live here and enjoy the football" he said, adding that FC Barcelona "is my second family. I see people at the club more than I see my own family". The full back and FCB have worked hard to define the new conditions and renew the contract that sees Abidal stay at the place "where the best football in the world is played".

This is Abidal's fifth season at Barça, and he is now one of the veterans at the club. But of all the seasons he has been here, he still thinks the first was the most memorable, "because I had just arrived from France, and discovered a new world, a new country, and a new language." But the second year was also very special "with the arrival of a new manager and we won everything". (via FCBarcelona.cat)