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Soccer

Eric Abidal the latest to lose his job as Barcelona upheaval continues

Eric Abidal has become the latest victim of the mass restructuring at FC Barcelona. The club reli...



Eric Abidal the latest to lose...
Soccer

Eric Abidal the latest to lose his job as Barcelona upheaval continues

Eric Abidal has become the latest victim of the mass restructuring at FC Barcelona. The club relieved their now former sporting director of his duties on Tuesday.

Barcelona announced the news in a press release this afternoon.

"FC Barcelona and Eric Abidal have reached an agreement for the ending of the contract that united the two parties," the statement read.

"The club would like to thank Eric Abidal for his professionalism, commitment, dedication and the close and positive nature of his relationships with all aspects of the Blaugrana family."

It is the lastest response from the club to last Friday's humiliating 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich at the Estadio da Luz in the Champions League quarter-final.

On Monday, Barcelona sacked manager Quique Setien after only seven months in charge.

Throughout the day, the board of directors held meetings and announced Setien's departure afterword.

The next move for the club is unknown. Gerard Pique admitted after the game on Friday that Barcelona had hit "rock bottom" and that there should be changes at all levels at the club.

"Nobody is untouchable, last of all me. Fresh blood will be needed to change this", said Pique.

"We have hit rock bottom now. We all need to look and reflect and see what is best for Barca, which is the most important."

So far the upheaval has failed to uproot club president, Josep Maria Bartomeu. The club announced that they would move forward next year's elections to March 2021.

Ronald Koeman has been lined up to replace Setien as manager of the club, but with Bartomeu unable to stand for re-election there is a belief in some quarters that his reign will not last long.

Victor Font, an opposition candidate closely linked with Xavi Hernandez' return to the Camp Nou, is one of the front runners for the job.

If he is to succeed in the elections, it is expected he will bring in a new manager.


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Bayern Munich Champions League Eric Abidal FC Barcelona Josep Maria Bartomeu Quique Setién