Hamza Abdelkarim’s father dismisses Como links amid Barcelona exit rumours

The father of Egyptian youngster Hamza Abdelkarim has dismissed speculation linking his son with a January departure from Barcelona, insisting that reports of a possible move to Italian side Como are completely unfounded.

The 18-year-old forward has recently been linked with a move to the Italian Serie A, with Como reportedly monitoring his situation ahead of the January transfer window.

However, his father, Mohamed Abdelkarim, has moved to dismiss the speculation, stressing that there has been no decision or agreement regarding his son’s departure from the Spanish giants.

Speaking to a Gulf-based media outlet on Friday, Mohamed categorically denied the reports, describing the rumours linking his son with Como as fabricated.

The Egyptian forward initially moved to the Catalan club on loan from Al Ahly at the beginning of the year before the transfer was made permanent during the summer.

He spent the second half of last season with Barcelona’s Under-19 team, where he continued his development before earning an opportunity to work with the senior squad under head coach Hansi Flick during pre-season.

Hamza has since remained around the first team, although opportunities to establish himself at senior level have been limited.

The teenager has made brief appearances in two La Liga matches against Rayo Vallecano and Getafe, as he continues to compete for a place in Flick’s attacking options.

Despite his limited involvement, his father remains confident in Barcelona’s development project and believes the youngster can make significant progress if he continues working hard.

Mohamed also urged caution over the transfer speculation, insisting that the reports should not be treated as confirmation of an imminent move away from the club. For now, Hamza’s immediate focus remains on his development at Barcelona as he looks to earn more opportunities and establish himself within the first-team setup.