Local radio outlet RAC-1 claim that the president has called for an urgent 'clear the air' meeting with Eric Abidal scheduled for midday Wednesday.
According to local Catalan radio station RAC-1, Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu is set to meet urgently with the club's director of football Eric Abidal as soon as the president returns to the Catalan capital from his latest business trip.
The meeting, which is expected to be held later on Wednesday has been called following the fall-out from Abidal's interview with Diario Sport where the Frenchman claimed that certain players didn't train so much under the previous manager Ernesto Valverde.
These declarations promoted a swift response from club captain Lionel Messi.
Messi strikes back
The Argentine striker posted on his Instagram feed just 87 minutes after the publication of the Abidal interview: "Those in charge of the sporting side also need to assume their responsibilities and above all, the decisions that they make. Lastly, I think that when someone mentions players, they should give names because if they don't, they are tarring everyone with the same brush and fuelling gossip - a lot of which is not true".
After his interview, Abidal's position has come under question with speculation already rife with those well connected with the club that Bartomeu may decide to call time on Abidal's tenure at FC Barcelona.
Abidal has been under fire recently for failing to secure a striker in the recent transfer window and that coupled with his Sport interview may be the tipping point for the president who ironically defended the Frenchman in an interview just last Sunday.
rombammy24
443
This clearly shows that Messi is bigger than Barcelona where club is bigger than players
Nberto
245
When victories and trophies are gotten we don't hear about problems in a team but once the team fails to produces results instead of seeking solutions, they put their differences to day light
djbendek
150
You read halfway an article and post comments... Messi was standing up for his team mates, the director accused some of his fellow team mates of not training during Ernesto V, so he sacrificed himself as a leader to speak out... There's nothing wrong about that instead there's everything right about it...
Yimmntuyz
110
whatever has happened is gone. never try to elongate it. sit together and find a suitable solution. only one suggestion, never expose your team problems to others. be quick to resolve it immediately so that none of the players is affected. remember, you, the team managers will be rewarded or regretted by the performances of the player. If they are happy you are getting better team performance. never let the odd things go further.
SanjoyChatterjee
16
This clearly shows that Messi is bigger than Barcelona where club is bigger than players
I don't know Messi is bigger than Barcelona or not but he is surely bigger than Arsenal