Hamza Abdelkarim targets 2029 Champions League final after Barcelona renewal

Hamza Abdelkarim says he wants to score goals, win major honours and play in a Champions League final at Camp Nou in 2029 after extending his Barcelona contract until 2030.

The Egypt forward was presented by Barcelona after the renewal and said he understood why his opportunities had been limited.

“It is a dream to be at this club and represent it,” he said. “Playing time is the coach’s decision and I respect that. I work every day to improve myself. I need time to become better and help the team. I know my chance to play will come, and I have to be ready for it.”

Abdelkarim added: “I am a striker and, of course, I want to score goals. There are other players who can score, such as Raphinha and Lamine. My role is to score goals.”

He said his lack of appearances was not connected to contract negotiations, despite suggestions to the contrary.

“I do not think my limited playing time is because of renewing my contract,” he said. “Espart performed amazingly this summer, which is why he is playing. I do not think it is related to the negotiations.”

Abdelkarim said confidence, rather than pressure, was the key to his development and thanked his compatriots for their support. He also praised the Barcelona coaching staff and squad, describing the dressing room as “like a family”.

“They look for ways to improve my performance and help me develop,” he said. “I look forward to coming to training every morning.”

On the possibility of Camp Nou hosting the 2029 Champions League final, Abdelkarim said: “It would be great, even amazing, to be able to play in 2029 and especially to see those trophies in this room. But my focus is on this year and preparing for this year’s Champions League.”

Asked who should win the Ballon d’Or, he backed Lamine: “There are many players in the team who could win it and deserve it. But we all agree that Lamine thoroughly deserves it. I am very happy to play with him every day.”

Abdelkarim said he wanted to focus on targets rather than dreams, with winning the Champions League his main ambition. He also accepted that he could still play for the youth side if necessary.

“I do not know whether I will play with them,” he said. “I do not think I should be ashamed if it happens. It is very important to get playing time, score goals, train with the first team and prove myself on the pitch, wherever that is – with the first team, the reserve team or the national team.”

The 2026 “Nile Haaland” described the nickname as a source of pride.

“Haaland is a great striker, excellent at scoring and finding the right position to shoot,” he said. “You can always learn from the greats by watching their style, and I like being called the Nile Haaland.”

Barcelona agreed to sign Abdelkarim permanently after taking him on loan from Al Ahly in January 2026. The club paid 1.5m euros in two instalments, while Al Ahly can receive a further 3-5m euros depending on his first-team and reserve-team appearances and goals. The Egyptian club also retain 15% of any future sale.

Barcelona activated the purchase option in the summer after Abdelkarim played at the 2026 World Cup. He scored four goals in pre-season and made his competitive first-team debut against Rayo Vallecano at Camp Nou on 31 August, appearing for nine minutes as a substitute.

He became the third Egyptian to play in La Liga, after Ahmed Hossam Mido for Celta Vigo and Haitham Hassan for Real Oviedo. Abdelkarim scored six goals in nine league matches for the youth side, including a hat-trick in a 9-0 win over Mont Carlo, and is included in Barcelona’s 2026-27 Champions League squad.

His renewed contract runs until June 2030, with an option for an additional year based on his contribution. His release clause has risen from 15m euros to 120m euros, increasing to 150m euros if the extra year is taken.