Liverpool FC v Atletico de Madrid - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 Florian Wirtz attacking midfield of Liverpool and Germany prior uring the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Liverpool FC and Atletico de Madrid at Anfield on September 17, 2025 in Liverpool, England. Liverpool England United Kingdom PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xJosexBretonx originalFilename:bretonhernandez-liverpoo250917_npxTu.jpg
Hearts midfielder Claudio Braga has declared he is completely focused on the club despite growing transfer interest from across Europe this summer.
Lyon of Ligue 1 and Turkish outfit Trabzonspor have both been heavily linked with the Portuguese star in recent weeks.
Hearts are understood to value the 26-year-old at over £8 million, though no concrete offers have yet been received for the player.
Braga claimed both the PFA Scotland and SFWA player of the year awards last season, cementing his reputation as one of Scotland’s standout performers.
The club are preparing for a Champions League second qualifying round tie against Sturm Graz in Austria, their first such step in 20 years.
It will also mark Braga’s first experience of European competition at any level, adding personal significance to an already historic occasion for the club.
New Hearts manager Wouter Vrancken has held direct conversations with Braga about the speculation surrounding his future at Tynecastle.
Braga said: “We have a very, very important game, maybe one of the most important games for the club in the past years.”
He was resolute when addressing his current mindset, stating: “I’m a Hearts player and that’s all you guys need to know and that’s all I need to feel.”
On the transfer talk specifically, he added: “I’m trying to be as professional as I can and not care about that. I leave that to my agents.”
Regarding his conversations with Vrancken, Braga confirmed: “Yeah, we had talks in the beginning, but I told him exactly the same as I told you guys.”
He stressed that allowing outside speculation to affect his focus would ultimately hurt both himself and the club he represents.
Braga, who has two years remaining on his Gorgie contract, said: “Of course, there may be interest or not, but that’s something that I can’t control or can’t focus on while I’m here.”
A 2-1 friendly victory over Conference League runners-up Rayo Vallecano at Tynecastle on Friday provided further encouragement ahead of the European trip.
Braga, who scored 17 goals last season, said Hearts would not travel to Austria merely to contain their opponents or settle for a draw.
He stated clearly: “We’re going there to win and make the best result possible and then even better, hopefully, at Tynecastle.”
His confidence in the squad was equally emphatic, saying: “I feel we are confident in the locker room” after praising the team’s display against Rayo Vallecano.
Hearts exceeded expectations last season by coming within minutes of winning the title, and Braga believes that spirit remains firmly intact heading into Europe.
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