\n\nHamza Abdelkarim has become one of the main talking points in the Spanish sports press after scoring twice against Birmingham City, with the 18-year-old emerging as one of the biggest surprises of Barcelona’s pre-season preparations.
The Egypt international impressed in the friendly and has attracted the attention of manager Hansi Flick, who has publicly praised the teenager’s qualities and raised the possibility that he could remain with the first team.
Marca highlighted Abdelkarim’s decision to cut short his holiday after representing Egypt at the World Cup and report immediately for Barcelona training. Under the headline “Hamza’s plan works”, the newspaper praised his approach to the opportunity and pointed to his “excellent movement and outstanding positioning inside the penalty area, as well as his bravery despite his young age”.
Those qualities have made Abdelkarim a notable presence during the Catalan club’s preparations for the new campaign. His two goals against Birmingham City strengthened the impression that he could offer Barcelona an unexpected option in attack.
Mundo Deportivo described him as “Flick’s ambitious goalscorer” and said he was “a different kind of striker from Barcelona’s other forwards”. The paper claimed he represented “the type of player the team has lacked since Lewandowski’s departure”.
The newspaper also focused on the forward’s mental strength after he confidently stepped up to take a penalty he had won himself. Abdelkarim converted the opportunity despite facing older and more experienced opponents, further underlining the self-belief he has shown during pre-season.
Sport devoted a lengthy report to “Hamza Abdelkarim’s solution: Barcelona’s surprise striker who entered the transfer market”. It traced his route from the Al Ahly academy in Egypt to European football and said that “Barcelona scouts noticed his potential and skills” during international youth tournaments.
That assessment led Barcelona to activate a €1.5m purchase clause for the player, according to the report.
Cadena SER also shared a lighter moment involving Abdelkarim during his media duties at St Andrew’s. His interview was interrupted by announcements over the stadium’s loudspeakers, but he responded with a smile and a self-deprecating joke, saying the speakers were “helping” him get through his nerves in front of the media.
The incident was presented as another sign of his maturity, despite his age.
Flick has been consistent in his public support for the Egyptian forward. The Barcelona manager described Abdelkarim as “extremely humble, with a great personality and great potential”.
He added: “He knows how to position himself well inside the penalty area, and that is exactly what I ask of a number nine.”
Speculation is now growing over whether Abdelkarim will stay with Barcelona’s senior squad. The club do not have an ideal replacement for Robert Lewandowski, while their move for Julian Alvarez has stalled.
That situation could create an opening for Abdelkarim to continue his rapid rise and begin what Spanish newspapers have called a new chapter in Barcelona history for the “Egyptian miracle”.
