After refusing to join Barcelona this summer following the expiration of his contract, defender Eric Abidal signed with Monaco. Claudio Ranieri, the coach of Monaco, revealed that it was former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola who recommended Abidal to him, despite the defender having undergone a liver transplant.
“I spoke about him with Guardiola before his arrival. Pep told me: ‘Claudio, take him, and in December, you’ll say thank you.’ After two weeks, I called Pep and told him: ‘Look, I won’t wait until December, I’m already saying thank you,'” confided Ranieri in an interview with L’Equipe.
Abidal, who is now the captain of Monaco, has made a return to the national team as well. It’s noteworthy that Abidal had been critical of Barcelona, and the club had also sent him away amidst the surprising turn of events.
