Barcelona teenager Hamza Abdelkarim set for Al Ahly test after Basel goal

Barcelona have highlighted the goalscoring potential of Egyptian teenager Hamza Abdelkarim after he impressed again in their 5-2 friendly victory over Basel during their preparations for the new season.

The 18-year-old came on at the start of the second half, replacing Anthony Gordon, and needed only three minutes to make an immediate impact. Abdelkarim scored Barcelona’s second goal, underlining the finishing ability that has attracted attention throughout the club’s pre-season campaign.

Barcelona celebrated his contribution on their official account on X by posting a picture of Abdelkarim after he found the net. The club accompanied the image with the message: “Hamza has goals in him. Lots of them.”

The post reflects the growing confidence within Barcelona in the young forward’s ability. Abdelkarim has emerged as one of the most notable surprises of the club’s preparations, having produced a series of impressive performances in the friendly matches played before the new campaign begins.

He has featured in every one of Barcelona’s pre-season fixtures so far, increasing the possibility of an opportunity with the first team. His progress has also taken on added significance following Ferran Torres’ move to Paris Saint-Germain, with manager Hansi Flick currently without an established central striker in his squad.

Abdelkarim will now face a particularly significant test when Barcelona meet his former club Al Ahly on Wednesday. The match will be played at Camp Nou as part of the Joan Gamper Trophy, a friendly fixture traditionally used by Barcelona to mark the start of a new season.

The meeting will give Abdelkarim the chance to come up against the club he previously represented while continuing to make his case at Barcelona. His goal against Basel was his latest contribution during a period in which the Egyptian forward has repeatedly attracted praise from the Catalan club.

Barcelona’s emphatic victory over Basel provided another opportunity for their younger players to demonstrate their qualities, but Abdelkarim’s quick goal after entering the match ensured he became one of the main talking points. His latest display came after he had already been involved in each of the club’s earlier pre-season games.

With the Al Ahly fixture approaching, attention will now focus on whether Abdelkarim is given another chance to contribute in front of the Camp Nou crowd. For Barcelona, his emergence offers an encouraging development as Flick continues to assess his options ahead of the new season.