Barcelona deny Eric Abidal's accusation over unpaid wages

Eric Abidal pictured with team-mate and Real Madrid striker Karim Benzima during a France training session

Spanish champions Barcelona have rubbished former defender Eric Abidal’s claims that the club did not pay him his wages during his sick leave in previous seasons, ESPN reports.

The French international had to undergo treatment for a tumour that was diagnosed in April 2011, and also recently went under the knife for a liver transplant this April.

Barcelona chose not to offer the 33-year-old a new deal, as he made four appearances for the club at the end of last season. The player then went on to sign for French outfit Monaco, featuring in almost every game for the club while earning himself a call-up to the France national team.

The player was upset with Barcelona not paying him his wages during his absence, but a club source spoke to AS, stating that the club had honoured its commitments to the player.

“Eric Abidal was paid in full under his contract and on time,” the source said. “Barça have been up to date at all moments, paying all the instalments. A part came from the medical insurers, although this part was very small.

In an interview with French tabloid L’Equipe, the player said that he was hurt by the Camp Nou club’s treatment towards him when he left, but after taking a look at his comments closely, it can be said that the media hyped the situation.

“It is difficult to understand Barcelona’s discourse during the final press conference,” he said. “In saying it was a professional decision, it made other clubs doubt me. It was never a question of money.

“The proof is that, during all the months I was sick, the club did not pay me. Now I am lucky to have the confidence of my coach and the club president. Touch wood, everything is going well. But it is true that there was a period of doubt.”

Abidal had been a regular started for the club when Pep Guardiola was at the helm. “[Guardiola] is a person who I appreciate enormously and with whom I am still in contact,” he said. “He is a great coach, he is the one who gave me my chance. If he was still there, I would have maybe been able to continue.”

The player joined the Spanish giants in 2007 from Lyon for a fee of €9 million, and had gone on to win four La Liga titles, two Copa Del Ray titles, two FIFA Club World Cups, two Super Cups and two Champions League trophies with the club.