Barcelona terminate Eric Abidal's contract one day after sacking Quique Setien

Frenchman leaves his position after two years and following a tumultuous season on and off the pitch for Barca

Eric Abidal, right, alongside Quique Setien, left, and Barcelona's president Josep Maria Bartomeu. AFP

Barcelona have terminated the contract of sporting director Eric Abidal, the club announced in a statement on Tuesday.

Abidal, who spent six years as a Barca player and won 10 major trophies, follows manager Quique Setien out of the Primera Liga club.

"FC Barcelona and Eric Abidal have reached an agreement for the ending of the contract that united the two parties," Barcelona said in a statement.

"The Club would publicly like to thank Éric Abidal for his professionalism, commitment, dedication and the close and positive nature of his relationship with all aspects of the blaugrana family."

The Frenchman leaves his position after two years and following a tumultuous season on and off the pitch at Barcelona.

In February, Abidal was subjected to a public rebuke from Barca captain Lionel Messi, who took exception to his former teammate calling into question the squad's commitment under previous manager Ernesto Valverde.

"When you talk about players, you have to give names because if not, it gives air to things which are not true," the 32-year-old Argentine superstar wrote on Instagram after Abidal suggested the players were not "working hard" for Valverde, who was sacked in January and replaced by Setien.

"Sincerely, I don't like to do these things but I think that people have to be responsible for their jobs and own their decisions.

"The players [are responsible] for what happens on the pitch and we are the first to admit when we haven't been good. The heads of the sports department have to take their responsibilities too and above all own the decisions they make."

The exits of Abidal and Setien signal what is expected to be a major overhaul at Barcelona, both at the boardroom level and with football personnel.

Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman is set to be named as Setien's successor, while changes are expected to the playing squad.

Barcelona concluded their season with a disastrous 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals, one month after surrendering their La Liga title to rivals Real Madrid.