The Catalan club have released a statement to deny claims made by the French defender that he had not received his wages during treatment for cancer
Barcelona have hit back at claims by Eric Abidal that the defender was not paid by the club during his time out for cancer treatment and say they have made contact with their former player to clear up the matter.
The 33-year-old told French newspaper L'Equipe in an interview that he had not been paid by the Catalan club during his illness and added that he would still be at Camp Nou if Pep Guardiola had remained in charge.
Barca went back on a public promise of a contract renewal and released the defender at the beginning of the summer, but the Catalans claim in a statement released on Friday that the player's agreement was respected fully during his illness.
"Barcelona contacted the player and his representative to clarify the confusion generated by the statements made by Eric Abidal to L'Equipe," the Catalan club revealed.
And Barca claim both Abidal and his representative recognise that the player was paid during his illness - contrary to the defender's remarks published in the French newspaper on Friday.
"Both parties confirm that the club duly complied with the contractual commitments stipulated in the player’s contract," the statement continued.
"In January of 2012, even though the player relapsed and underwent liver transplant surgery two months later, Barcelona offered Abidal a contract extension which included a substantial renewal bonus. The extension was signed."
Barca also highlight how they stood by the defender, even when his disease came back in 2012.
"In March of 2012, when Abidal’s disease reappeared, the club did not execute its option to unilaterally rescind the player’s contract per the stipulation in the contract that Abidal signed.
"By mutual agreement, Barcelona and the player suspended the contract until Abidal was medically cleared to play. During this period Abidal continued collecting his agreed upon monthly payments and, upon his return to the first team, he received the proportional sum of his contract.
"In June of 2013, when his contract was due to expire, the club and Abidal liquidated the contract."
The defender, now with Monaco, made 184 appearances for Barcelona between 2007 and 2013, scoring two goals and winning 15 trophies.
The 33-year-old told French newspaper L'Equipe in an interview that he had not been paid by the Catalan club during his illness and added that he would still be at Camp Nou if Pep Guardiola had remained in charge.
Barca went back on a public promise of a contract renewal and released the defender at the beginning of the summer, but the Catalans claim in a statement released on Friday that the player's agreement was respected fully during his illness.
"Barcelona contacted the player and his representative to clarify the confusion generated by the statements made by Eric Abidal to L'Equipe," the Catalan club revealed.
And Barca claim both Abidal and his representative recognise that the player was paid during his illness - contrary to the defender's remarks published in the French newspaper on Friday.
"Both parties confirm that the club duly complied with the contractual commitments stipulated in the player’s contract," the statement continued.
"In January of 2012, even though the player relapsed and underwent liver transplant surgery two months later, Barcelona offered Abidal a contract extension which included a substantial renewal bonus. The extension was signed."
Barca also highlight how they stood by the defender, even when his disease came back in 2012.
"In March of 2012, when Abidal’s disease reappeared, the club did not execute its option to unilaterally rescind the player’s contract per the stipulation in the contract that Abidal signed.
"By mutual agreement, Barcelona and the player suspended the contract until Abidal was medically cleared to play. During this period Abidal continued collecting his agreed upon monthly payments and, upon his return to the first team, he received the proportional sum of his contract.
"In June of 2013, when his contract was due to expire, the club and Abidal liquidated the contract."
The defender, now with Monaco, made 184 appearances for Barcelona between 2007 and 2013, scoring two goals and winning 15 trophies.