Egypt teenager Abdelkarim pushing for Barca place after prolific pre-season

CAIRO, Aug 22 : Egypt striker Hamza Abdelkarim could barely get a game for Al Ahly's first team before joining Barcelona but the 18-year-old is now the Catalans' leading pre-season scorer and pushing for a place in Hansi Flick’s side ahead of their LaLiga campaign.

Abdelkarim scored four goals in five warm-up appearances, starting four matches and netting in three, after cutting short his post-World Cup holiday to join Barca’s preparations.

He initially arrived from Al Ahly during the winter transfer window and scored six goals in 11 appearances for Barcelona’s under-19 side. The Spanish club exercised their purchase option in June, signing him permanently until 2029.

With Barca yet to recruit an out-and-out striker following the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, Abdelkarim could get first-team chances sooner than expected.

A product of Ahly’s youth academy, most of his few senior appearances came in Egypt’s equivalent of the English League Cup. Some Egyptian commentators questioned whether he could succeed at the highest level.

Yet Abdelkarim has appeared comfortable leading Barcelona’s attack. A classic centre-forward, he has shown a poacher’s instinct, strength in the air and an ability to link up effectively with wingers.

He announced himself with a brace in a pre-season draw in Birmingham. After going scoreless in a triangular tournament in Udine, he struck within four minutes of coming on in Basel before opening the scoring against his former club Al Ahly in the Joan Gamper Trophy.

Abdelkarim had already caught the eye at the 2025 Under-17 World Cup in Qatar, scoring twice and setting up another goal in four appearances for Egypt.

Despite his lack of senior club experience, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan