World Cup winner pays surprise visit to Barcelona training | OneFootball

FC Barcelona welcomed back one of their newest world champions on Thursday as Eric Garcia made a surprise visit to the first team’s training session before beginning his summer break.

The defender stopped by the Ciutat Esportiva after helping Spain lift the 2026 World Cup, where he made his tournament debut during the final against Argentina and played an important role in extra time.

According to SPORT, Garcia wanted to greet his teammates and coaching staff before officially starting his holidays following Spain’s celebrations earlier this week.

Garcia was seen smiling alongside Hansi Flick and several members of the squad as he caught up with familiar faces after an unforgettable summer.

The defender is expected to return to full training during the week beginning August 10, giving him time to recover after an extended season that ended with international glory.

His visit also served as a reminder of the confidence he has rebuilt over the past year. After fighting for regular opportunities at Barcelona, Garcia heads into the new campaign as a World Cup winner with renewed momentum.

Meanwhile, Barcelona’s morning session was missing two players.

Alejandro Balde did not train as part of the club’s workload management programme, while Hafiz Gariba remained unavailable because of a viral illness.

Barcelona carefully managing the squad before preseason opener

Flick scheduled only one training session on Thursday as Barcelona continue preparing for their first preseason outing.

The Blaugrana will face CE Europa in a behind-closed-doors training match, giving the coaching staff an initial opportunity to assess fitness levels and tactical ideas before the squad travels to England.

Managing workloads at this stage of preseason is just as important as building match sharpness, especially with several players returning from a demanding World Cup summer.

Garcia’s visit may not have had any direct impact on preparations, but moments like these often help strengthen the bond within the dressing room. Seeing one of their own return as a world champion is the kind of boost every squad appreciates before the hard work truly begins.