Barcelona back Hamza Abdelkarim as striker option

Barcelona are increasingly backing Hamza Abdelkarim as a future centre-forward option, even though the 19-year-old has not yet made his first-team debut this season.

With a move for Julián Álvarez looking unlikely, the club see the Egyptian as a realistic in-house solution after getting a close look at him during pre-season.

The report says Barcelona activated a €1.5 million purchase option after initially taking Abdelkarim from Al Ahly on a six-month free loan. The fee will be paid in two instalments of €750,000, while performance bonuses could push the total cost beyond €5 million. Al Ahly also kept a percentage of any future sale.

That structure shows Barcelona are investing in potential rather than chasing another expensive transfer. Abdelkarim has impressed enough in training and pre-season to stay firmly in the club’s long-term plans, even if his role for now remains limited.

The lack of first-team minutes has not changed the internal view of his talent. Barcelona believe he can grow into a genuine option up front, especially if the squad needs a more natural striker profile later in the season.