Lamine Yamal backs Barcelona teenager Hamza Abdelkarim to become ‘great striker’

Lamine Yamal has tipped new FC Barcelona team-mate Hamza Abdelkarim for a successful future, describing the 18-year-old Egypt international as a player with “all the qualities to become a great striker”.

Yamal, 19, is enjoying the best spell of his career. The Spain forward is a world champion and a leading contender for the Ballon d’Or, having scored seven goals and provided four assists in La Liga this season.

He was speaking about Abdelkarim during an interview with Egyptian programme On Sport, offering strong support for one of Hansi Flick’s less publicised summer additions.

Abdelkarim joined Barcelona on loan from Al-Ahly in January 2026, shortly after his 18th birthday. He made a strong impression during his six months with the club, scoring six goals in 11 appearances for the youth teams.

Those performances persuaded Barcelona to complete a permanent deal worth 1.5 million euros during the summer transfer window. Al-Ahly described the move as the biggest transfer in the club’s history for an academy-developed player.

The young forward has been compared with Erling Haaland because of his physical strength and ability in the air. He also represented Egypt at the 2026 World Cup.

Barcelona extended Abdelkarim’s contract until June 2030 in an effort to fend off interest from elsewhere. He made his La Liga debut as a substitute in the 5-2 victory over Rayo Vallecano at the end of August.

Flick had already spoken positively about the forward during pre-season, suggesting he could compete for a place in the first team.

“I think the club has done an excellent job,” Flick said. “He performed well during pre-season and is competing for a place in the team. He is the type of player we did not have before. He is a great prospect for the future and we have to keep him.”

Yamal echoed his manager’s assessment when asked about Abdelkarim’s progress.

“He has a bright future,” Yamal said. “He is still young and has all the qualities to become a great striker.”

Barcelona also signed former Arsenal and Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus during the same transfer window, after their pursuit of Julian Alvarez failed.

While Gabriel Jesus provides experience to the squad, Abdelkarim is viewed by the club as a long-term investment. His arrival in the first team comes after a rapid rise from Al-Ahly’s youth setup and a limited but significant early appearance in La Liga.