4 challenges facing Hamza Abdelkarim on his path to Barcelona’s first team
Young Egyptian striker Hamza Abdelkarim faces challenges in his Barcelona career despite being close to the first team and training with them ahead of their La Liga match against Atlético Madrid. The report focuses on the difficulty of balancing opportunities to train with the first team against his need for regular playing time and experience.
One challenge is the possibility of Hamza moving between the first team, Barça Atlètic and the under-19 side, under different coaching staffs. According to Albert Masnou, deputy editor of Sport, the player could work with Hansi Flick, Juliano Belletti and Pol Planas over a short period, requiring him to adapt to different roles and instructions. The report notes that he played against Aston Villa in the UEFA Youth League without having trained with his youth-team teammates before the match.
The number of matches also raises the possibility of increased physical and mental demands: Hamza played 45 minutes against Aston Villa, then joined the first-team squad and sat on the bench for its UEFA Champions League match that same night. The report says that repeating this pattern could add pressure on the player, particularly amid a regular schedule of matches and training.
Getting actual playing time remains a separate challenge from simply training with the senior players or being named in the squad. According to Mundo Deportivo, competition in attack has increased after Barcelona signed Brazilian Gabriel Jesus, and Hamza could find himself choosing between waiting for an opportunity with the first team and returning to Barça Atlètic to play regularly. The report notes that being in the first team’s plans could sometimes keep him out of reserve-team matches, including the game against Manresa.
The report adds that public and media interest in Hamza has grown since his move to Barcelona and his inclusion on the shortlist for the 2026 African Young Player of the Year award, raising expectations around him.