Hamza Abdelkarim seen as Egypt’s Mohamed Salah successor

Barcelona youngster Hamza Abdelkarim is widely expected to eventually replace ageing icon Mohamed Salah as Egypt’s next superstar, according to Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan.

The 18-year-old prodigy secured a permanent €1.5 million transfer to Barcelona on June 10 after impressing in their youth academy.

“We have seen many things (we like with Hamza), his personality, technical capabilities, ambition, what the player wants to achieve,” Hassan proudly began. “When he comes to work with us, I can see that he’s a very good player for Egyptian football,” the national manager eagerly remarked. “The new players are the future of the squad, the country, Egypt’s football,” Hassan added.

With his rapid rise into Barcelona’s setup and standout performances at Juvenil A, Hamza has captured attention across Europe. He broke into Al Ahly’s first team at 17 and earned Egypt’s senior World Cup squad at 18, while leading the Under-17 national team as captain.

“In 2027, you’ll see a new star-studded team,” the manager concluded ahead of Egypt’s Group G World Cup opener against Belgium.

Club officials see the deal as low-risk with great potential upside, expecting Hamza to follow in the footsteps of La Masia graduates and secure a spot in the first team as one of Africa’s most promising talents.