Eric Abidal is to leave Barcelona after six years at Camp Nou when his contract expires next month.
Abidal has made 192 appearances for the Catalan giants since signing from Lyon in 2007, but his football career has been largely overshadowed by health issues in recent years.
The French defender was diagnosed with a tumour on his liver in March 2011, immediately undergoing surgery and returning to action just six weeks later and captaining Barca to UEFA Champions League success against Manchester United.
However, in March 2012 it was announced that Abidal would have to undergo a liver transplant due to unresolved issues from his surgery, limiting him to just four appearances since.
He explained that he would have preferred to stay on at Barcelona but the club were not willing to extend his deal, with the Frenchman not interested in hanging his boots up just yet.
I would have like to have stayed and played on at Barcelona but the club saw it differently and I have to respect their decision, Abidal said.
I hope to return because it is a club (that is) very special to me.
I have no offers, I was always respectful.
I ll start talking to clubs when I finish my contract, Europe will be my destination but I do not know the country.
There will be time to analyse everything, but I believe I can go on for one or two more seasons. I am 33 now, I can end up when I m 35.
Barcelona president Sandro Rosell confirmed the door would be open to Abidal to remain at the club in a coaching capacity when his playing days do come to an end.