体坛英语新闻：Abidal extends contract with FC Barcelona

MADRID, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona announced this Monday an agreement to extend the contract of French international defender Eric Abidal.

Abidal' s original contract was due to expire at the end of June this year and club and player have been locked in conversations to extend the deal for various months.

The defender' s new deal takes him up to 2013 but includes clauses to extend it for a further two seasons depending on the number of games he plays next season.

Abidal has made 177 first team appearances for Barcelona and won over the hearts of the Barcelona fans this year when he was diagnosed with a liver tumor which needed an operation. He recovered before the end of last season and his team-mates showed their affection for the 32-year-old when he collected the Champions League trophy after Barca' s 3-1 win in last May' s final against Manchester United.

The news of Abidal' s new deal is a perfect morale boost for Barcelona ahead of their Copa del Rey quarter final first leg against Real Madrid on Wednesday night.