Egyptian prodigy Hamza Abdelkarim returns to Egypt as work permit delays stall Barcelona debut

Egyptian teenage forward Hamza Abdelkarim has temporarily returned to his homeland after administrative complications delayed his long-awaited debut in Spain.

The 18-year-old striker, who recently completed a move to FC Barcelona Atlètic, has been training with the Catalan club’s reserve side since his winter transfer was confirmed.

However, work permit issues have prevented him from making his official appearance.

Club sources indicate that the processing of his documentation has proven slow and unpredictable, prompting Abdelkarim to travel back to Egypt in a bid to speed up the bureaucratic procedures required for clearance.

Despite the setback, Barcelona remain confident in the young forward’s potential. Once his work permit is approved, he is expected to gradually integrate into competitive action, possibly featuring first with the Juvenil A side before stepping up to Barca B.

The promising striker must wait for the paperwork to be resolved before beginning his stint with the decorated Spanish outfit.