Abidal agrees new Barca deal

Barcelona have agreed a one-year contract extension with defender Eric Abidal, the European champions announced.

The new deal will tie the France international to Barca until the summer of 2013, and includes an option to extend it for another two seasons on top of that.

Barca said in a statement on their website: “Barcelona announce they have reached an agreement with Eric Abidal to renew his contract with the club for more one season, until June 30, 2013.

“The agreement includes the provision to extend it until 2015, with automatic annual renovations during those two seasons.”

Abidal, 32, has played 177 officials games for Barca since joining the Spanish giants from Lyon in 2007, and helped the club win 13 titles, including three Primera Divisions and two Champions Leagues.

Last March Abidal successfully underwent surgery on a liver tumour, returning to play before the end of the season.