Barcelona clarify Abidal's claims

Barcelona have clarified claims from their former player Eric Abidal that they did not pay the Frenchman during the period he was absent from the game as he underwent a liver transplant.

Barcelona have clarified claims from their former player Eric Abidal that they did not pay the Frenchman during the period he was absent from the game as he underwent a liver transplant.

Abidal had told French newspaper L'Equipe in an interview on Friday that the club had not paid him during his illness and that their decision not to renew his contract just months after his return to the field had been difficult to take.

The Monaco defender was diagnosed with a tumour on his liver in March 2011 and after briefly returning to first-team action was forced onto the sidelines for over a year to undergo the transplant in March 2012.

However, in a statement released on the club's website, Barca said they have since been in contact with Abidal and claim they complied fully with their contractual obligations.