Barcelona’s Hamza Abdelkarim future remains unresolved as Belletti tests three strikers

Hamza Abdelkarim’s future at Barcelona remains undecided as reserve-team manager Giuliano Belletti assesses three other options for the number nine position during pre-season.

Barcelona Atletic have been preparing for the new campaign for more than three weeks under Belletti, who is working to integrate both new arrivals and players promoted from the Under-19 side.

The Brazilian has used three centre-forwards in the team’s opening friendly matches against Tona and Girona B: 22-year-old Ignasi Quer, 18-year-old Oscar Gistau and 18-year-old Nouhou Fofana.

Quer and Fofana were given an opportunity in the first match, with Quer starting the opening half before Fofana took over after the interval.

Quer joined from L’Hospitalet and is regarded as a promising addition after scoring 20 goals in the fourth tier last season. He has signed a two-year contract with Barcelona.

Fofana, meanwhile, extended his deal until 2030 after making appearances for Barcelona Atletic during the previous campaign.

Gistau is the third option being considered by Belletti. The club has considerable faith in the forward’s long-term potential, and he scored from the penalty spot in the game against Girona B.

He began last season with Barcelona Atletic but was held back by injuries. Gistau finished the campaign with the Under-19 team, where he rediscovered his scoring touch, and Barcelona expects him to be one of the side’s main attacking threats this season.

The most prominent name still awaiting clarity is Abdelkarim, the 18-year-old Egypt forward. He initially joined Barcelona with the intention of strengthening Barcelona Atletic, but began his career with the Under-19 team.

After impressing at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, Abdelkarim was promoted to train with the first team during their pre-season preparations. His progress has left his position for the coming campaign uncertain.

According to Barcelona sources cited by Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Abdelkarim is continuing to train with the first team under manager Hansi Flick. Flick has already watched the forward score in training, but the club has yet to make a final decision on whether he will remain with the senior squad or return to lead the attack for Barcelona Atletic.

That decision will also be crucial for Belletti, who must rebuild his entire forward line this season. Barcelona Atletic lost both of their leading scorers from last term: Joaquin Delgado, who returned to Oviedo after his loan spell, and Victor Barbera, who joined Valladolid.

With those departures, Belletti has begun the process of identifying a new first-choice striker. Quer’s goalscoring record, Fofana’s contract extension and Gistau’s recovery from injury have all strengthened their respective claims.

Abdelkarim’s position is different because his performances have also attracted the attention of the first-team coaching staff. Until Barcelona decide where he will spend the season, Belletti’s attacking plans remain incomplete and the competition for the number nine role is still open.