Barcelona make first-team changes as Hamza Abdelkarim remains in Hansi Flick’s plans

Barcelona have returned three young players to Barca Atletic ahead of Sunday’s La Liga opener against Elche, while Hamza Abdelkarim remains with Hansi Flick’s first-team squad and is expected to travel for the match.

The decision was taken after Barcelona’s final training session at the Joan Gamper Sports City on Saturday morning, as Flick prepared his side for the start of their league campaign.

Jesse Bisiwu, Orian Jorin and Ibrahima Tonkara were absent from the first-team session after being instructed to join Barca Atletic. The trio will be available to Juliano Belletti’s reserve side, who are due to play a friendly against Vilanova at 19:00 on Sunday.

The move involving Bisiwu, an 18-year-old Belgium international, is linked to his registration status. Barcelona have not yet been able to register the forward for La Liga because of a bureaucratic issue concerning his visa.

Bisiwu joined Barcelona from Club Brugge during the summer transfer window. He is expected to hold a registration with the reserve team, which would allow him to feature for Barca Atletic in the friendly against Vilanova if the club decide to select him.

Tonkara, a 16-year-old midfielder, has already spent time with the reserve side. He joined Barca Atletic last Wednesday and played in a closed-door morning friendly against Europa, which Barcelona won 1-0.

The teenager then returned to the first-team group later that day and featured in Barcelona’s Joan Gamper Trophy fixture against Egyptian club Al Ahly.

Jorin, a 17-year-old midfielder, will now also link up with Belletti’s squad after spending the recent period training under Flick. Jorin and Tonkara remain registered in the youth category.

Abdelkarim keeps his place

While three prospects have been moved back to Barca Atletic, several players with reserve-team registrations are continuing to train with Flick and are expected to be included in Barcelona’s travelling group for the trip to Elche.

That group includes Hamza Abdelkarim, Xavi Espart, Alvaro Cortes, Brian Farinhas and Jordi Pesquer, as well as goalkeeper Eder Aller.

Abdelkarim is hoping to make his competitive first-team debut after impressing during pre-season. His chances could be helped by Barcelona’s lack of new attacking signings following the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres.

The forward has remained part of Flick’s plans despite the club’s decision to send Bisiwu, Jorin and Tonkara to Barca Atletic. His performances during the preparation period have given him an opportunity to compete for involvement as Barcelona begin their La Liga campaign.

Barcelona will face Elche on Sunday evening in their opening league match, with the club continuing to balance first-team requirements with the development of its young players.