As appointments go, there’s no doubt whatsoever that Eric Abidal’s will be universally popular.
The Frenchman has just been unveiled as Barcelona’s new sporting director and it’s true to say that supporters couldn’t be happier if social media is an accurate gauge.
One of the most iconic moments in recent Barca history came at Wembley, back in 2011, when Carles Puyol handed Champions League trophy lifting duties to the left-back, who had recovered from a bout of cancer to return to the top level.
Nor will anyone forget his tears when leaving the club after having been promised a contract renewal if he could prove his fitness.
As a smug Sandro Rosell, then president, sat impassively by, Abidal bawled his eyes out. The knives were never sharper for the Barca board than at that precise moment.
Now, ‘Abi’ is back in the fold and with one of the most difficult tasks at the club. The role of sporting director is one he has no experience of, so taking the emotion out of the appointment, one has to ask if it’s the correct move?
The recent lineage in this area of the club doesn’t inspire confidence that it is.
Could it purely be a PR exercise to help get the Griezmann deal over the line amongst other things?
Though Ramon Planes has been installed as someone to help the Frenchman, arguably Abidal will be the face of club recruitment, and should the pairing not work, there’s little doubt he will be the fall guy again.
His love for the Blaugrana has probably seen his heart rule his head, because when we’re reminded of what’s happened with the most recent incumbents in the post, it does appear to be a poisoned chalice.
Andoni Zubizarreta was ousted just a few months after Josep Maria Bartomeu took charge, the blame laid at his door for an inability to deal with Lionel Messi and a poor showing at the Anoeta.
Carles Puyol, who like Abidal had been a conduit between the players and technical staff after finishing his own playing career, departed with Zubi, much to supporters’ chagrin.
Others have come and gone, most recently Robert Fernandez, whom Abidal takes over from.
Though it’s true that Fernandez has hardly been a revelation in the role, he did at least have the requisite experience to take it.
Abidal needs to hit the ground running and make an immediate impact to ensure that the technical department of the club is no longer a laughing stock.
