Abidal will sign new Barcelona deal, says Bartomeu

The defender's current deal with the Blaugrana is due to expire at the end of the season, but he will ink a fresh contract as soon as he resumes match action

Barcelona vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu has revealed that Eric Abidal will sign a new deal with the Catalan giants once he has made his comeback.

'ABIDAL AN INSPIRATION'

The France international resumed regular training action earlier this week, after a nine-month spell on the sidelines following a liver transplant, and Barca are determined to support the experienced defender and keep him at the club.

"Abidal's contract renewal is all ready, and he will put ink to paper once he has played his first game again,  Bartomeu told Rac-1.

The 33-year-old arrived at Camp Nou from Olympique Lyonnais in the summer of 2007, and has since made  over 180 official appearances for the Blaugrana.

Abidal's last game for the club was the 2-1 Liga win over Atletico Madrid on February 26.