Abidal to extend Barcelona contract

Barcelona left-back Eric Abidal is expected to sign a contract extension after reaching an agreement with the club in a meeting on Thursday.

El Mundo Deportivo claims that negotiations are in their final stages and a meeting between his agent David Venditelli and the club on Thursday went well.

Abidal is in the last year of his current contract and had been looking out for a two year extension. However, it is reported that he will settle with a new one-year deal until June 2013.

Abidal had earlier in the week stated that he would be open to a move abroad if no agreement could be reached with Barcelona, but it now seems that he will stay.

Abidal joined Barcelona from Olympique Lyonnais in 2007 and has become the first choice left-back in the team.