Barcelona's Commitment to Hamza Abdelkarim's Development

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

Despite the 18-year-old Egyptian failing to play a single minute in the opening two rounds of La Liga, the club hierarchy and Hansi Flick’s staff remain fully convinced by him, according to Spanish outlet Sport. Their message is clear: the roadmap for the striker stays exactly as drawn.

Abdelkarim finished 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 offers something different in the final third.

The teenager has transformed physically. Already a pure No 9 with a solid build, he has followed a specific conditioning programme tailored by the club. The work shows. There is visible growth in both his upper and lower body, turning raw promise into a frame ready for senior football’s demands.

His rise with Egypt’s senior national team at the last World Cup accelerated that process. Abdelkarim came on in the closing stages of most matches, gaining high-level minutes that sharpened his competitive edge. Barcelona believe Flick now has a player capable of operating at elite level, even if they accept there are still important steps left in his development.

For this season, those steps will largely come in a familiar shirt. Sport reports that the club intend to keep him registered with Barcelona Atletic, where he has been handed the number 29. That decision was part of the plan from day one: guarantee him regular game time whenever the first team cannot.

Barcelona are realistic. They know Abdelkarim’s minutes under Flick will fluctuate as the season unfolds. When opportunities dry up with the seniors, Juliano Belletti’s side will become his playground, a place to maintain rhythm and keep his progression steady rather than stalled.

There is another piece to the puzzle. Sport also confirms that the club are working on a contract renewal for the young Egyptian. The project is long-term, the belief is strong, and the message to Abdelkarim is unmistakable.

Be patient. Your time is coming.