Eric Abidal Set to Retire at Year-End — Denies Rumors of Barcelona Return
French defender Eric Abidal is preparing to hang up his boots at the end of 2014, according to reports from the Spanish press. The former AS Monaco and FC Barcelona center-back, currently at Olympiakos, has made eight appearances for the Greek side this season.
Abidal, now 35, is reportedly considering an early retirement in December, six months before the end of his contract with Olympiakos. However, should the club manage to qualify for the Champions League Round of 16, he may choose to extend his stay through to June 2015.
Olympiakos is currently second in Group A, level on points with Atletico Madrid, giving them a real shot at progressing in Europe.
Amid speculation over his post-retirement plans, rumors surfaced linking Abidal with a potential return to FC Barcelona in a non-playing role. Yet, the player himself was quick to quash the claims, posting a denial on Twitter and stating that no such agreement had been made with the Catalan club.
While Real Madrid and other clubs have also been mentioned in relation to a future role for Abidal, nothing has been officially confirmed. The coming weeks could provide more clarity on both his retirement decision and any next steps in football beyond the pitch.
