Give Abidal A Chance.

With all this talk about changes and players leaving, there is one player who deserves a second chance with Barça after winning a second chance at life. Barça’s biggest Achilles heel this season was poor performance by their defensive back four.  Those poor performances stemmed from the absences of Puyol and Abidal. Abidal has had a difficult year ever since he had to fight his battle against cancer. Now that he is back, there is talk that he won’t be brought back for the upcoming season. However, with all that this club went through this season, Abidal deserves a chance to win a spot on this team for the upcoming season.

Abidal’s amazing return to action this season has been well documented. It was courageous and inspirational. Prior to his medical problems, Abidal was well liked for his on pitch performances as a left back and as a center back. Abidal though became a beloved icon for his courage battle in beating cancer and his inspirational attempt to return to the playing field. Abidal has laughed at the face of death not once, but twice.

Obviously, what Abidal went through this past year took a toll on his body. You don’t need a medical degree to know that Abidal was not going to be back to his old self anytime soon. His return was going to take time. However, it is disheartening to read rumors that the club is not interested in having Abidal back for next season.

I understand that the club wants to make some changes with the roster but I don’t agree with the club asking Abidal to quit and take a position with the club. I am a firm believer that Abidal still has something to offer. Perhaps Rosell and Zubizarreta should give Abidal a chance to win a spot on the team during the summer preseason games. If he shows he is fit enough and can play at this level, then he deserves a shot on the team. On the other hand, if he struggles or seems to have a lost a step, then the club would be justified in asking Abidal to retire and take a position with the club or allow him to play for another club.

Abidal has been through a lot these past two years. The least the club could do for him is just give him a shot and see if he still has what it takes. Right?