Garcia sets sights on 2026-27 Champions League as Barcelona goalkeeper downplays Real Madrid focus

Barcelona goalkeeper Juan Garcia says he is ignoring Real Madrid’s transfer business and is instead fully focused on helping his own club win the Champions League in the 2026-27 season.

Speaking at his personal training camp, in comments reported by Spanish newspaper Marca, Garcia stressed that Barcelona have already shown they possess a strong squad and argued that concentrating on their own development is the only way to achieve their ambitions.

Garcia said it would be a “mistake” to pay attention to what their rivals are doing in the market, underlining his belief that Barca can compete with any team if they maintain their standards.

“It would be wrong to look at others,” the Catalan keeper said. “We have proved that we are a great team. If we focus on ourselves, we can beat any opponent. They have very good players, but we have seen many times that having good players is not everything.”

Champions League ambition for 2026-27

Garcia underlined that his main personal target with Barcelona is to lift the Champions League trophy in the 2026-27 campaign, describing it as the ultimate prize in club football.

“I have spent a year with Barcelona and we won La Liga and the Supercopa,” he said. “Now I have won the World Cup with Spain, and my goal for the 2026-2027 season is the Champions League, because it is the biggest competition at club level.”

The 23-year-old, who has enjoyed a rapid rise for club and country, insisted that Barcelona have the quality required to challenge for Europe’s premier club competition, but warned against allowing that aim to become an unhealthy fixation.

“Obsession is not a good thing, because if we don’t succeed, the negative impact can be huge,” he added. “But we must have the ambition and the desire to perform well, because we have the ability to achieve it.”

Support for Ferran Torres and faith in Deco

Garcia also addressed speculation over the future of his team-mate Ferran Torres, making clear he hopes the Spain forward remains at the club.

“I would be very happy if he stays,” Garcia said. “He is a great player on the pitch and off it. If it were up to me, he would definitely stay.”

The goalkeeper was more guarded when asked about the possibility of Barcelona signing Julian Alvarez. Garcia declined to comment directly on any potential move for the Manchester City forward, but expressed confidence in the work being done by sporting director Deco and praised the business carried out so far in the current window.

He said he trusted Deco’s decisions and welcomed the new arrivals already secured by the club, suggesting they would strengthen the squad ahead of the coming seasons.

Pushing for starting role against Elche

Garcia is due to report back for pre-season with Barcelona around 10 August and is targeting a place in the starting XI for the opening game of the new La Liga campaign against Elche on 23 August.

The goalkeeper explained that his current training camp is designed to ensure he arrives at club level in peak condition, with the intention of convincing the coaching staff that he deserves to start that first league fixture.

With domestic and European titles in his sights, Garcia reiterated that Barcelona’s success will depend on internal improvement rather than external distractions, insisting that what happens at Real Madrid will not alter his approach or his expectations for the season ahead.