Alves: Barca should have kept Abidal

Barcelona wing-back Dani Alves has claimed that the club should have offered Eric Abidal a new deal.

The French defender was released by the Blaugrana this summer, and the Brazilian has insisted that ‘he does not understand’ the situation.

 “I have taken the number 22 shirt because I love Abidal and I do not understand his situation,” he told RAC1.

“It was an unpleasant surprise to find out that he wouldn’t be continuing with us. For the huge efforts he made and for all that he has been through, they should have handed him a new deal.

“That upset me a lot because Abidal’s a guy who I love very much and I want him here, with us. Maybe there’s more to it than I know about. Barça showed that they are more than just a club for what they did to help him recover.

“For him to then leave leaves a bit of a bitter taste but anyway... Now he has to look to his own future. I am sure that he will continue to be an example to everyone around him where he is now,”