Barcelona Committed to Hamza Abdelkarim Development Plan
Barcelona are not blinking over Hamza Abdelkarim. No minutes in La Liga so far, but no change in the plan either.
According to Spanish outlet Sport, the Catalan club and Hansi Flick remain fully convinced by the 18-year-old Egyptian striker, despite his absence from the first two league matchday squads on the pitch. Inside the club, confidence in his future is described as absolute.
Abdelkarim ended the summer as Barça’s top scorer in pre-season, a detail that did not go unnoticed at the Ciutat Esportiva. Flick still sees him as a genuine weapon for the first team, an impact option off the bench who can alter games with his presence in the box.
The teenager has transformed physically. Already a pure No. 9 with a solid frame, he has been put through a specific conditioning programme, and the work now shows: more power in his legs, more strength in his upper body, more authority in duels.
His rise with Egypt’s senior national team has only accelerated that curve. At the last World Cup he came on in the closing stages of most matches, valuable minutes that hardened his mentality and sharpened his competitive edge. Barcelona believe Flick now has a striker ready to contribute at elite level, even if they accept that several key steps in his development still lie ahead.
For that reason, the club will stick to the original roadmap. Sport reports that the board and sporting department are committed to keeping Abdelkarim registered with Barcelona Atletic, where he has been handed the number 29 shirt this season. The idea was clear from day one: guarantee him regular game time with Juliano Belletti’s side whenever the first-team door is temporarily closed.
Barça are under no illusions. They know his minutes under Flick will fluctuate across a long campaign. Injuries, rotations, tactical choices – all of it will affect his role. That is why they view Barcelona Atletic as the perfect safety net, a place where the 18-year-old can keep playing, keep scoring, and keep evolving without losing rhythm.
Sport also confirms the next step in the club’s strategy: Barcelona are already working on renewing Abdelkarim’s contract. The message is unmistakable. He is not just a promising pre-season story; he is part of the club’s long-term attacking blueprint.
