Fabregas future on Martino agenda

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The future of Manchester United target Cesc Fabregas will be among the priority issues for new Barcelona head coach Gerardo Martino.

Barcelona confirmed they have struck an agreement for Martino to take over at the Nou Camp on a two-year deal.

The 50-year-old Argentinian succeeds Tito Vilanova, who stepped down from the role on Friday after one season in charge as he continues his battle with cancer.

It is not yet known when Martino will begin work at the Nou Camp, but it seems likely the transfer saga surrounding Fabregas will still be rumbling on with United reluctant to throw in the towel.

United have already made two bids for the former Arsenal captain but, with Barcelona continuing to insist the Spain midfielder is not for sale, the Red Devils could return with a third offer.

Fabregas was not on the agenda as Martino held a press conference in Rosario where he admitted Barcelona's interest had come out of the blue.

The former Paraguay coach also believes fellow Argentinian Lionel Messi had a say in his appointment.

Both Martino and Messi are from the Rosario region of Argentina and the four-time Ballon d'Or winner has spoken in glowing terms about his compatriot in the past.

Martino suspects Messi put in a good word for him with the Barcelona hierarchy.

"I don't know the details of the situation, (but) I have no doubts that Messi spoke with the club directors. I'm sure that Jorge (Messi's father) and Leo have had some weight in this decision,'' said Martino, who is looking forward to working with the world's top player.

Abidal to clarify his future on Thursday

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Barcelona defender Eric Abidal will announce at a press conference at 13h00 (11h00GMT) on Thursday whether he is to stay at the club, either in a playing or ambassadorial role, or leave the Spanish champions come the end of the season.

Abidal, who made a remarkable recovery from a liver transplant to return to first-team action last month, is out of contract at the end of the season.

And according to Barcelona sports daily El Mundo Deportivo, Abidal has not been offered a new playing contract, but instead a role within the sporting structure of the club which he is free to take up immediately or whenever he has finished his playing career somewhere else.

After his return to first-team action Abidal had signalled his intent to continue playing for another couple of years should he continue to be in good health.

"The objective I had wanted was to end my career playing and if I feel fine and can continue for a year or two I will do," he said after his first appearance for 14 months against Mallorca on April 6.

The Frenchman has made four appearances in total this season, but hasn't been involved since a 2-2 draw against Athletic Bilbao on April 27.

Abidal to clarify his future on Thursday

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Barcelona defender Eric Abidal will announce at a press conference at 13h00 (11h00GMT) on Thursday whether he is to stay at the club, either in a playing or ambassadorial role, or leave the Spanish champions come the end of the season.

Abidal, who made a remarkable recovery from a liver transplant to return to first-team action last month, is out of contract at the end of the season.

And according to Barcelona sports daily El Mundo Deportivo, Abidal has not been offered a new playing contract, but instead a role within the sporting structure of the club which he is free to take up immediately or whenever he has finished his playing career somewhere else.

After his return to first-team action Abidal had signalled his intent to continue playing for another couple of years should he continue to be in good health.

"The objective I had wanted was to end my career playing and if I feel fine and can continue for a year or two I will do," he said after his first appearance for 14 months against Mallorca on April 6.

The Frenchman has made four appearances in total this season, but hasn't been involved since a 2-2 draw against Athletic Bilbao on April 27.

Abidal to clarify his future on Thursday

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Barcelona defender Eric Abidal will announce at a press conference at 13h00 (11h00GMT) on Thursday whether he is to stay at the club, either in a playing or ambassadorial role, or leave the Spanish champions come the end of the season.

Abidal, who made a remarkable recovery from a liver transplant to return to first-team action last month, is out of contract at the end of the season.

And according to Barcelona sports daily El Mundo Deportivo, Abidal has not been offered a new playing contract, but instead a role within the sporting structure of the club which he is free to take up immediately or whenever he has finished his playing career somewhere else.

After his return to first-team action Abidal had signalled his intent to continue playing for another couple of years should he continue to be in good health.

"The objective I had wanted was to end my career playing and if I feel fine and can continue for a year or two I will do," he said after his first appearance for 14 months against Mallorca on April 6.

The Frenchman has made four appearances in total this season, but hasn't been involved since a 2-2 draw against Athletic Bilbao on April 27.

Barcelona midfielder Xavi sees bright future for Barca

Barcelona midfielder Xavi does not believe his side's Champions League semi-final mauling at the hands of Bayern Munich signals the end of an era for the Catalan giants.

Barca look poised to reclaim the Primera Division title this season in Tito Vilanova's first campaign in charge, but while the club may be top dogs in Spain, they are no longer the dominant force in Europe and were humiliated 7-0 on aggregate by the Bavarians.

Xavi told Canal Plus: "There's no need to be drastic. The team has a future, we've competed very well up until now. I'm always optimistic and this team has the desire,"

He added: "We've not been able to get through the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey and Champions League (but) I think we have the team to carry on. On Sunday we have another competition."

Barca could replace Real Madrid as Spanish champions this weekend and their players are now focusing on that match in a bid to banish their European misery.

Midfielder Cesc Fabregas said: "The players are hurt, we have to react and win La Liga as soon as possible.

"We went up against a very strong Bayern, their counters with (Franck) Ribery and (Arjen) Robben were very hard to stop. But we are Barca, we don't make excuses."

Defender Dani Alves added on his club's website: "We have to thank the fans for their support and promise them that we will return

"The fans understand football and they know that when you get knocked down you get up and you keep on fighting.

"We still have that hunger to keep on winning and the fact that we were eliminated in the semi-finals proves that. We don't make excuses. If your opponent is better than you, you get eliminated."

Abidal to discuss Barca future with president

French full-back Eric Abidal is due to have a meeting with Barcelona president Sandro Rosell to discuss his future with the Catalans, club spokesman Toni Freixa said Wednesday.

The 33-year-old has missed most of the last year after contracting liver cancer and his current playing deal comes to an end in June.

Barca have not revealed whether Abidal's offer is to continue playing or for some other role -- although a month ago they suggested it was an ambassadorial role -- but the Spanish champions are keen to keep him on.

"As (sports director Andoni) Zubizarreta has already said, the club have made a proposal to Abidal and we'll soon find out what he decides," said Freixa.

"In the next few days he should meet president Rosell and we'll publish the result of that meeting."

Abidal, who previously played for Monaco, Lille and Lyon, underwent a liver transplant in April 2012 and has played little for Barca since then.

He has previously said he would like to continue his playing career as long as he can.