Barcelona see 18-year-old talent as ‘real option’ in first-team dynamics

Barcelona have begun to place genuine trust in Hamza Abdelkarim as a first-team striker option after the Egyptian teenager produced four goals in just 241 minutes during pre-season.

The 18-year-old played in every friendly under Hansi Flick, chose to prioritise Barcelona’s preparations over his holiday and used the opportunity to force his way beyond the youth setup. 

SPORT now indicates that the club see Hamza as a real alternative at centre-forward rather than another academy prospect training with the senior squad.

His rise has also pushed Barcelona to look at his future more seriously. 

As reported before, the club is working on a new contract that would improve his current terms and raise his release clause from €15 million to a massive €150 million.

Hamza arrived at Barcelona in January on loan from Al Ahly, initially joining the club’s youth ranks with an option to buy included in the agreement.

Barcelona soon decided that they had seen enough.

Hamza Abdelkarim is a genuine option for Hansi Flick. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

The club exercised that option and kept the powerful left-footed forward, but the biggest development came this summer when Flick opened the door to the first team.

Hamza could have taken his scheduled holiday after playing at the World Cup, but he chose to report for pre-season and begin working under the Barcelona manager.

That decision gave him the platform he needed.

Rather than disappearing into the background among established senior players, the teenager featured in every pre-season game and began making a clear impression. 

His four goals show the exact impact he made, but Barcelona’s confidence is not based on the numbers alone.

Hamza has shown a natural instinct around the penalty area, physical presence and an ability to find himself in dangerous positions. 

Hamza Abdelkarim has seized the opportunity during pre-season. (Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images)

For a side currently without another pure No. 9, those qualities have not gone unnoticed.

As a result, the Egyptian striker has gone from being a promising youth signing to a player Flick can genuinely consider when selecting his attacking options.

Hamza’s performances have arrived at an important moment for Barcelona.

The club continue to assess the striker market, but they are also aware that the answer to part of their problem may already be inside the squad. 

SPORT’s update makes it clear that Barcelona are not treating the youngster’s pre-season simply as a positive summer story, as there is real belief that he can contribute.

Of course, pre-season football alone cannot determine whether an 18-year-old is ready to carry the demands of an entire campaign, but Hamza has earned the right to be considered.