Barcelona forward Hamza Abdelkarim the only first-team player to walk out of training ground

Barcelona have renewed Hamza Abdelkarim’s contract this week, improving his financial terms and increasing the value of his release clause to 150m euros.

The Egypt forward, who has been Barcelona’s leading scorer during pre-season, remains registered with the club’s reserve team despite becoming fully integrated into the senior squad’s daily training programme at the club’s sporting complex.

According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Abdelkarim’s situation is unusual because he is the only player on Barcelona’s first-team list who leaves the club’s facilities on foot.

While the rest of the squad arrive and depart in their own cars, Abdelkarim walks out through the gate closest to the Tito Vilanova training pitch before crossing the road to the accommodation where he lives.

His apartment is one of those provided by Barcelona for their young players, generally when they reach adulthood and complete their time living at La Masia.

Abdelkarim lives in Sant Joan Despi and has become a familiar figure to supporters who visit the area around Barcelona’s facilities hoping to meet their favourite players.

He regularly appears in souvenir photographs with fans and does not turn down requests from those who approach him.

His new life, away from travelling with the team, therefore involves little need for lengthy journeys. Apart from his involvement with the first team, Abdelkarim lives close to the training ground and can make the trip home on foot.

The improved contract and €150m release clause underline the value Barcelona place on the player, who continues to train daily with the senior squad while retaining his reserve-team registration.