Barcelona maintain faith in Hamza Abdelkarim despite first-team bench role

Barcelona remain confident in the development of Egyptian striker Hamza Abdelkarim, despite the youngster being left on the bench in the club’s opening La Liga matches against Elche and Athletic Bilbao.

As per reports, Hansi Flick’s led technical team remain confident in the 18-year-old forward and have no intention of rushing his integration into the first team.

The German gaffer reportedly has a high opinion of Abdelkarim and considers him an interesting option for the attack, particularly after the Egyptian finished as Barcelona’s leading scorer during pre-season.

The club has also been closely monitoring his physical development. Abdelkarim has been following a personalised fitness programme, which has reportedly produced noticeable improvements in both his upper and lower-body strength.

His recent involvement with the Egyptian national team has also been viewed positively, with the experience helping him gain greater competitive maturity and adapt to the demands of senior-level football.

Despite these encouraging developments, Barcelona believe Abdelkarim still needs time before becoming a regular first-team player.

As part of that development plan, the Egyptian will continue to wear No. 29 and remain registered with Barça Atlètic, allowing him to get regular competitive minutes whenever he is not involved with Flick’s first team.

Barcelona believe playing under reserve-team coach Juliano Belletti will be beneficial for Abdelkarim’s development, particularly during periods when his first-team opportunities are limited.

The club is also reportedly considering a contract renewal for the young striker. Barcelona want to improve his salary and increase his current €15 million release clause to provide greater protection against interest from other clubs.

For now, Barcelona’s approach is clear: Abdelkarim’s development will be carefully managed, with the club balancing first-team exposure with regular playing time for the reserve side.