Hamza Abdelkarim marked his first goals for Barcelona by scoring twice in the club’s friendly against Birmingham, earning praise from manager Hansi Flick and strengthening his case for a role around the first team.
The Egypt forward was the standout player for the Catalan side, finding the net twice during the match. He later reflected on the significance of scoring in Barcelona colours in a message posted on his social media accounts.
“Scoring goals in this shirt feels completely different. We continue working as a team,” Abdelkarim wrote.
According to Spanish newspaper Sport, the 20-year-old was deeply moved by his performance and the response to his goals. His double came after a period in which he has impressed both in training and during appearances for Barcelona’s youth side.
Abdelkarim joined Barcelona’s youth set-up in January after producing an impressive campaign at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. His performances at that tournament attracted interest from a number of clubs, but Barcelona acted quickly to secure an agreement with Al Ahly.
The deal initially brought the striker to Barcelona on loan with an option to buy for 3m euros. Barcelona exercised that option this summer, completing the transfer for the agreed fee.
Part of the agreement between the clubs included the arrangement for a friendly match. As a result, the Egyptian club will take part in this year’s Joan Gamper Trophy.
Abdelkarim’s immediate challenge is to convince Flick that he deserves to remain involved with the senior squad. Coaches within Barcelona’s youth system believe he may make only a limited number of appearances for the reserve team because of his strong chance of developing into the first-choice deputy striker for the first team.
That possibility has been strengthened by the current situation in the transfer market. Barcelona’s plan is for Abdelkarim to spend the season regularly training with the senior squad and becoming familiar with the demands and atmosphere of first-team football.
The forward has already made a strong impression since arriving in Spain. His early displays in training and in youth-team matches were enough to earn him selection for Egypt’s squad at the U-20 World Cup, where he appeared at a major international tournament for the first time.
Barcelona’s coaches have been encouraged by Abdelkarim’s maturity, physical readiness and exceptional ability in front of goal. The club have no doubts that he has the potential to develop into a major star.
His two-goal display against Birmingham now gives him an important early opportunity to show that he can contribute beyond the youth ranks. With Flick’s approval and the club’s intention to keep him close to the senior group, Abdelkarim’s progress will be closely monitored as Barcelona assess his readiness for a more prominent role.
