Éric Abidal, the new sporting director at FC Barcelona

Éric Abidal, the new sporting director at FC Barcelona

Abidal vuelve al FC Barcelona / | Rubén Moreno

The former Barcelona player will replace the outgoing Robert Fernández, whose contract ends on the 30th June

FC Barcelona have finally announced who their new sporting director will be for the upcoming season and it's Eric Abidal. The former Barcelona player will take over the role from Robert Fernandez, whose contract ends on the 30th June.

In the same announcement the club confirmed they won't extend Robert's contract.

Robert has been the sporting director for the first team since the summer of 2015 after club president Josep Maria Bartomeu won the election.

REPLACING Zubizarreta

After a delay of a few months, Robert announced that Andoni Zubizarreta has been sacked at the beginning of January 2015. This came after a crisis engulfed the club following a loss to Real Sociedad at Anoeta. At the end of the season Luis Enrique's team won their second treble, picking up the LaLiga, Copa del Rey and Champions League titles.

Robert was responsible for the successful signings of Samuel Umtiti, Paulinho, Jasper Cillessen and Denis Suarez. However he was also questioned for bringing in Lucas Digne, Andre Gomes and Paco Alcacer.

In the 2015 elections, Abidal formed part of the technical team put together by rival candidate Joan Laporta.

Objetive Griezmann

Before, as a footballer, Abidal was one of the fundamental pieces of the 'Pep Team', arguably the greatest team in Barcelona's history. The French defender, after a difficult year of adaptation, soon become an indispensible member of the team and won the hearts of the Barcelona fans. His battle against cancer brought the entire world onto his side as he bravely returned to action following extensive treatment.

Abidal will be presented in his new role next Monday, the 18th June, and his job will be to restructure the technical area of the football club.

One of his first objectives will be to try and finalise the deal for his compatriot Antoine Griezmann.