Bartomeu sort out Abidal and Messi's dispute

Barcelona are preparing for Thursday's Copa del Rey one-legged quarter-final tie away at Athletic Club.

Bartomeu sort out Abidal and Messi's dispute
Eric Abidal

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has intervened in the crisis produced by the statements made by Eric Abidal, which blamed the players for Ernesto Valverde's dismissal and was met by a strong response from Lionel Messi.

Bartomeu spoke with both of them on Wednesday morning in order to ease the tension at the club.

The president's main objective was to not allow this disagreement to spiral out of control, while he does not intend to take any immediate action as he hopes that, in time, things will blow over.

Messi does not want a war either. If he responded to Abidal, it was because he is fed up of being held responsible for everything that happens at the club and even more so with regards to a matter as delicate as Valverde's sacking, which the Frenchman's words implied.

 

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So, for the time being, everything is back to normal at the Camp Nou.

The captain is focused on Thursday's Copa del Rey one-legged quarter-final tie away at Athletic Club.

Abidal, meanwhile, is concentrated on trying to bring in a forward to cover the loss of Ousmane Dembele to injury, with the Frenchman ruled out for the rest of the season.

What happens in the summer is another matter, but for now Abidal will remain as sporting director.