体坛英语新闻：Abidal waits on Barca future

MADRID, April 18 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona defender Eric Abidal explained on Thursday that he is still unsure about his future at the club.

The French international returned to action in Barca's 5-0 home win over Mallorca a fortnight ago 402 days after undergoing a liver transplant he required after he had been diagnosed with a liver tumor in 2011.

He didn't play in Barca's Champions League game against Paris Saint Germain, but made his second appearance of the campaign last Sunday when he played as a late substitute in his side's 3-0 win in Zaragoza.

Abidal's return to action has been greeted with relief and happiness by the Barca fans, who have great affection for the defender, but speaking on local radio station RAC1, Abidal admitted he is still not certain what the future holds for him as a player given that his current contract with Barca expires at the end of June.

"If my health allows it, I would like to carry on playing and I want to carry on playing for Barca; so what do I do if they don't call me?" he said, admitting that the club has not called him to open negotiations over a new deal.

There are rumors that Barca want Abidal to continue at the club, but in an ambassadorial role, although the defender admitted that nobody had commented that to him directly.

"I know the President, (Sandro Rosell) has plans for me, but only I can decide my future," he said, before admitting he was not able to say for certain whether he would be able to carry on playing.

"Time and God will say that, I can't and if I have to be an ambassador, then I will be happy to do so. I would like to retire as a Barca player, but that depends on them and not on me," he said, although he admitted the club had behaved "very well," towards him throughout his illness.

Abidal insisted he had not received offers to sign for any other clubs and said he was investigating the possibility of creating an 'Eric Abidal Foundation' in order to help others who needed transplants. He also said that when he had been diagnosed with cancer he had sold al of his cars, as he realized how little importance money had in comparison to health. He then used the money to buy food for those in need.

"We will have to do something to do it well and to be able to help people," he said, before explaining how he had felt to be able to play football again.

"The day I played again, coming on as a substitute for Gerard Pique, was a better feeling than being able to lift the Champions League. A lot of people had waited for that day and the truth is that all of the support and good wishes that I have had during this time were transmitted onto the pitch," he said.