A TEARFUL ERIC ABIDAL said his goodbyes to Barcelona this morning, two months after making a remarkable comeback following a liver transplant.

Abidal, 33, is out of contract at the end of the season after the Catalan giants decided they would not offer him a new deal to stay at the Camp Nou.

Club president Sandro Rosell revealed that they instead wanted to move the French defender into a high-profile coaching role within their academy but Abidal, determined to prolong his playing career, has turned it down — for now.

“It’s quite a difficult day,” he told an emotional press conference, attended by coach Tito Vilanova and most of the senior squad.

I have played here for six years, and it’s been the biggest experience of my life. I had two aims – to fight to be able to see my two daughters grow up and to play again. I’d have loved to have stayed here but I have to accept the club’s decision.

He added: “I’m leaving but I’ll definitely be back. Thank you for the gesture.”

Abidal was first diagnosed with cancer in March 2011 and ultimately needed a liver transplant last year. Despite fears that he would never play football again, he made his return to first-team action in early April in a league game against Mallorca.

Rosell insisted: “We are not saying goodbye to him, we are saying that we’ll meet again whenever he wants.

When he decides to stop playing football, he can come back here to be the technical director of all of our football academies on a worldwide level.

Abidal has become a very special person for all of us. He has won our hearts. He has taught us never to give up and how determination can overcome difficulties. It is a lesson for life that we’ll never forget.

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