Barcelona teenage striker Hamza Abdelkarim makes case for bigger role as Alvarez talks continue

Barcelona’s pursuit of Atletico de Madrid striker Julian Alvarez could determine whether Egypt forward Hamza Abdelkarim is given a serious opportunity in Hansi Flick’s first-team plans.

The 18-year-old has emerged as one of the most talked-about players at Barcelona during pre-season, attracting praise from team-mates and drawing comparisons with Manchester City forward Erling Haaland.

Abdelkarim’s physical strength in the penalty area and his instinct for finding the net have prompted some players to liken his style to the Norway international. German newspaper Bild has also focused on the young Egyptian in a report headlined: “Could he become Flick’s number one striker?”

The teenager scored twice on his first appearance for Barcelona’s senior side and added another goal in the club’s 5-2 friendly victory over Basel. His quick impact has strengthened the case for him to be considered by the coaching staff beyond the club’s youth teams.

Flick praised Abdelkarim’s attitude and his performance in the penalty area after the Basel match.

“Hamza is extremely humble and has a great personality. He always gives everything, and he has huge potential. A striker has to be present in the penalty area, and that is what he did today, which is exactly what I want from a centre-forward,” said Flick.

Abdelkarim first became associated with Barcelona at the start of the year. He initially joined the under-19 side on loan during the second half of last season before making the move permanent this summer in a deal worth 1.5m euros.

His Haaland comparison began during his time in the youth set-up. Team-mates would sing his name to the tune of a song associated with the Manchester City striker after Pol Planas and his coaching staff showed Abdelkarim clips of Haaland and Victor Osimhen to help improve his movement on the pitch.

However, Barcelona remain interested in adding an established forward to their squad. According to Bild, the Catalan club are still working on a deal to sign Alvarez from Atletico de Madrid, with a possible agreement potentially being completed before 1 September.

If that transfer fails to materialise, Abdelkarim could have a genuine chance of moving into Flick’s first-team calculations. Barcelona’s attacking options have been affected by the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, while the squad does not contain another experienced striker.

Flick has played down speculation about future additions and insisted his attention is currently on the players already available to him.

“We focus on the players we currently have, and we are not thinking about anything else,” he said.

That position could give Abdelkarim an opening as Barcelona assess their attacking options. Whether he becomes a regular first-team presence may depend on the outcome of the Alvarez negotiations, but his performances during pre-season have ensured the Egypt international is now firmly in the conversation.