Barcelona's Commitment to Hamza Abdelkarim Grows as Contract Talks Progress

Barcelona have made up their mind on Hamza Abdelkarim. No detours, no loans, no late-market twists. The 18-year-old Egyptian striker will follow the development route the club mapped out months ago – exactly as planned.

Spanish outlet Sport reports that, despite Abdelkarim not playing a single minute in the first two La Liga rounds, confidence in him inside the club and within Hansi Flick’s staff “appears absolute”. He has not been forgotten. Far from it.

The teenager ended the summer as Barça’s top scorer in pre-season, a detail that did not go unnoticed at the Ciutat Esportiva. Flick still rates him highly and sees him as a live option off the bench for the first team attack, a different profile to inject energy and presence when games open up.

The club also point to his physical evolution. Already a pure No 9 with a powerful build, Abdelkarim has followed a specific conditioning programme and the results are now visible: a stronger upper body, more explosive legs, a frame that looks ready for senior football rather than youth tournaments.

His experience with Egypt’s senior national team at the last World Cup accelerated that process. He came on in the closing minutes of most matches, small windows of action that forced him to adapt quickly to the pace and demands of elite football. Barcelona believe those minutes hardened him, handing Flick a player who can already cope at the top level, even if they accept he still has key steps to take in his development.

For now, those steps will come in a familiar shirt. Sport says the club are committed to keeping Abdelkarim registered with Barcelona Atletic, where he has been handed the number 29. That decision was made from the start of the season with one clear objective: guarantee him regular competitive minutes whenever the first team cannot offer them.

Barcelona are under no illusions. They know there will be stretches when his game time under Flick dips, especially in tight league runs or decisive European weeks. In those periods, Juliano Belletti’s side becomes crucial – a safety net to maintain rhythm, confidence and sharpness for an 18-year-old they see as a long-term asset.

There is another layer to this show of faith. Sport also confirms that the club are already working on renewing Abdelkarim’s contract. The message is clear: Barcelona do not just see him as an interesting pre-season story. They see him as part of their future.