Barcelona's Long-Term Plan for Hamza Abdelkarim

Barcelona have made up their mind on Hamza Abdelkarim – and they are not budging.

The young Egyptian striker will follow exactly the development route the club mapped out for him months ago, with no tweaks and no emergency U-turns after a quiet start to the season.

Hamza has not played a single minute in the first two La Liga rounds. On the surface, that might suggest a prospect slipping down the pecking order. Inside the club, it means nothing of the sort.

According to Spanish outlet Sport, confidence in the 18-year-old from both the board and Hansi Flick’s staff “appears absolute”. They see a player who has already passed some serious tests.

He ended the summer as Barça’s top scorer in pre-season, a stretch in which he showcased not just instinct in the box but a growing physical presence. Flick still rates him highly and sees him as a genuine option off the bench for the first team attack, not a token academy inclusion.

The transformation has been visible. Already a classic centre-forward with a solid frame, Hamza has been on a tailored physical programme, and the work shows: stronger upper body, more powerful legs, a profile built for duels with seasoned defenders rather than youth-level markers.

His rise with Egypt’s senior national team accelerated that process. At the last World Cup, he featured in the closing minutes of most matches. Those cameos hardened his competitive edge and gave Flick something every elite coach craves – a teenager who already knows what the top level feels like. Barcelona are clear he still has several steps left in his development, but they now view him as ready to contribute when called upon.

Roadmap through Barcelona Atletic

The roadmap runs through Barcelona Atletic. Sport reports that the club hierarchy are committed to keeping him in Juliano Belletti’s squad, where he was registered with the number 29 at the start of the campaign. That decision was never a demotion. It was built into the plan from day one: whenever first-team minutes dry up, he drops straight into a competitive environment to keep his rhythm.

Barcelona fully expect his playing time under Flick to fluctuate over the season. Injuries, rotations, tactical tweaks – all of it will affect how often his name appears on the teamsheet. That is why they see regular football with Barcelona Atletic as the perfect safety net, ensuring the 18-year-old’s progress does not stall when the first team bench gets crowded.

There is another clear signal of trust. Sport also reports that the club are already working on a renewal for the Egyptian forward’s contract.

For a teenager still waiting for his first league minute of the campaign, the message from Barcelona could hardly be louder: stay patient, stay ready – you are part of the future.