Eric Abidal comes out of the silence.
The former Lyonnais had not spoken since his departure from FC Barcelona, a few days after the humiliation against Bayern Munich last summer at the "Final 8" in Lisbon.
8-2 loss that cost coach Quique Setien his place, among other upheavals.
In this interview with the
Telegraph
, the former technical secretary of the Catalan club returns to a number of subjects, including several that directly or indirectly concern PSG.
Abidal evokes in particular the summer of 2019 and the real-false return of Neymar to Camp Nou.
"If we had not recruited Griezmann, we could have re-signed Neymar"
Eric Abidal
Remember that "Ney", two years after his departure, wanted to return to Catalonia.
Leonardo and the Parisian management had opened the door to a transfer and ex-president Jordi Bartomeu had even moved to Paris in the last days of the transfer window.
PSG had refused an offer that will politely qualify as baroque, Neymar had stayed.
“Ten days before the end of the transfer window, I went to Paris to talk with Leonardo and I was with my CEO, and we were talking about Neymar.
I think that if the CEO is going to Paris Saint-Germain, it's because we can sign him, says the former French international.
If we hadn't signed (Antoine) Griezmann before, I think 100% we could have re-signed Neymar.
We needed a winger.
And when Neymar was at Barcelona he was amazing.
It's not about which player is the best, it was just the profile we needed at the time.
The team needed a real winger.
The president has decided to sign Griezmann. "
Neymar's superb goal with Barça against Villarreal in November 2015 (3-0)
Abidal forgets to specify that Barça had grappled with "Grizou" long before the summer of 2020. And even at the end of winter 2019 according to various sources.
We remember that his release clause went from 200 to 120 M € on July 1.
In Barcelona, we have therefore always refused to talk about an agreement before the offseason ... "One of the arguments against Neymar was that he had legal action against the club, so it is not easy.
They said he would have to stop the legal process if he wanted to return.
In my opinion, I could sign the player, but that did not happen, ”plague Eric Bidal.
Since then, Neymar Jr has taken his ease in Paris and his extension should even be formalized in the coming days.
Eric Abidal exclusive interview: Quitting Barcelona, courting Pochettino, talks with Messi - and the future |
@Matt_Law_DThttps: //t.co/E6MkHy1tke
- Telegraph Sport (@TelegraphSport) March 22, 2021
Abidal-Messi, no hard feelings
In fact, the question now is whether Lionel Messi, free this summer, will join him at PSG!
"His choice will depend on the rest of the team, the new project, the new ideas of the new board of directors and their ideas for the coach, for example", slips Abidal about the "best player of all time" , recently became the most capped player in Barça history.
We remember that Abidal and Messi had also clung publicly.
It was at the beginning of the year, after the dismissal of Ernesto Valverde.
"Many players were not satisfied and did not work much", had dared the French sports director in the columns of the Spanish daily
Sport
.
The six-fold Argentinian Golden Ball, annoyed by the implication that suggested that some players had precipitated the fall of their coach, had replied curtly on social networks.
"I think I was right, they needed to train harder in my opinion, promises Abidal, assuring that he has no personal problem so far with Messi.
I never said that the players wanted to get rid of the coach. ”
"I wanted the best and Pochettino is one of the best"
Eric Abidal
Speaking of coaching, Abidal didn't wait until 2020 to want to get rid of Valverde.
As early as December 2018, he had "recommended" his ouster.
Without results.
In fact, it was going to be extended!
When Valverde was finally sacked, Abidal had put together a shortlist consisting of Mauricio Pochettino, Quique Setien, Max Allegri and Xavi Hernandez.
“Quique was nominated, but Pochettino was my first option,” he swears.
And to add that he had discussed with the coach of PSG, free at the time.
“I wanted the best and Pochettino is one of the best,” he emphasizes.
The discussions did not, however, have very far, some Catalan decision-makers not having forgotten that "Poche", ex-player and coach of Espanyol, had previously spoken of Barça in not very complimentary terms in the press.
“I knew there was a political problem because I gave my point to the board and some answers focused on Espanyol and not the technical part.
It was a problem for the egos of some people and they said "no because he does not respect the club", "said the former Blue.
And now ?
Eric Abidal, 41, is impatient at the idea of finding a club and a role of sports director.
If he speaks in the English press, it is not by chance.
The former Gone now speaks English and would see himself as an officer in the Premier League.
“But French is my language and my Spanish and my Catalan are good, so I'm open to a lot of things,” he says.
The message has passed ...
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