Hamza Abdelkarim shines for Barcelona as teenage forward tops pre-season scoring

Hamza Abdelkarim has emerged as Barcelona’s leading scorer during pre-season after taking his tally to four goals, while head coach Hansi Flick continues to seek a new number nine.

The 18-year-old Egypt international scored in Barcelona’s 2-1 victory over Egyptian club Al Ahly on Wednesday in the Joan Gamper Trophy, further strengthening the positive impression he has made during the weeks leading up to the new season.

According to Catalan newspaper Sport, Abdelkarim has been one of Barcelona’s standout performers during their preparations. The report, titled “Hamza Abdelkarim’s revolution at Barcelona”, said the forward had benefited from the absence of another established centre-forward in the squad.

Flick still wants Barcelona to sign a striker, but Abdelkarim’s performances have given the German coach considerable encouragement over what the young forward could contribute.

Although he remains short of experience because of his age, Abdelkarim has shown a notable instinct in front of goal. Sport said he had repeatedly demonstrated an ability to arrive in the right place at the right time to finish attacks.

“His four goals during pre-season confirm this, as he has become Barcelona’s top scorer in the preparations – the same achievement reached by Lamine Yamal last time, when he scored four goals in four matches,” the newspaper reported.

Abdelkarim’s progress at Barcelona has accelerated since his arrival. He initially joined from Al Ahly on loan to play for the club’s youth team, before stepping up to represent Egypt at the World Cup. Barcelona subsequently decided to make his move permanent and have tied him to the club until 2029.

The forward could have been entitled to a longer rest period, but instead chose to shorten his holiday and report for Barcelona’s preparations under Flick from the first day. That decision impressed the manager.

Leading the club’s scoring charts in pre-season does not guarantee that Abdelkarim will maintain the same form throughout the campaign, but it represents an important boost for the teenager as he competes for a place in Flick’s plans.

Abdelkarim’s four goals also put him level with Yamal’s return from the previous pre-season. He is already ahead of the totals recorded by Ferran Torres in 2023 and Pau Victor in 2024, when both players scored three goals in four matches.

Pau Victor topped Barcelona’s scoring list during the 2024 preparations, but his subsequent experience did not develop as he had hoped. Before that, Torres led the team in 2023 with three goals in four games, while Ousmane Dembele scored five times in five matches during preparations for the 2022-23 season.

Nine different players have scored for Barcelona during the latest pre-season campaign. Abdelkarim leads with four goals, followed by Jesse Bisiwu and Raphinha with two each.

Ibrahim Diarra, Hector Fort, Ebrima Tunkara, Alex Gonzalez, Karim Adeyemi and Lamine Yamal have each scored once.