Garcia dreams of retiring at Barcelona after contract extension

Eric Garcia revealed that his dream is to retire at Barcelona after he signed a new contract extension with the club.

The 24-year-old agreed to a new deal, which will keep him at the Camp Nou until 2031, after he established himself as a starter this season.

Garcia has already made 22 appearances across LaLiga and the Champions League this season, with Barca sitting top of the Spanish top-flight and 15th in UEFA's premier competition.

The Spaniard left La Masia in 2017 to join Manchester City, but returned to his boyhood club four years later.

And despite initially struggling to find his place in the Barca team, a loan spell with Girona in 2023-24 reignited his confidence as he is now a crucial part of Hansi Flick's side.

Garcia has played 127 games in LaLiga with Barcelona (97) and Girona (30), helping keep 28 clean sheets while completing 91.5% of his passes and winning 60.9% of his tackles.

The centre-back explained how his form when he returned to Barca has helped him become the player he is now.

"The dream before leaving [for City] was to triumph at Barca," said Garcia.

"When you return, the dream starts again. I had to go to Girona, but my dream was to triumph here, to play my whole life here.

"I have always believed that I could be a starter, whether I played or not. I am enjoying the starts. But if one day the manager doesn't play me, I will keep believing.

"When I came back, I was very young; we all know how this goes. You go from being the best to the worst. I arrived in a difficult era in which the club demanded results.

"It kept me calm. Now, neither by playing well am I the best, nor when I mess up will I be the worst.

"That consistency makes great players. One has to be calm when things get tough, keep your head down. Afterwards, everything comes."