Barcelona’s Former President Hails Hamza Abdelkarim as Club’s Future

Josep Maria Bartomeu, former president of FC Barcelona, has publicly lauded Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim as a pivotal figure in the club’s long-term plans.

Abdelkarim scored twice during his appearance for Barcelona in a pre-season friendly against Birmingham City last Friday—a match the Catalan side ultimately lost on penalties.

In an interview with the Egyptian sports channel On Sport Max, Bartomeu stated: “Hamza Abdelkarim possesses exceptional talent. He is an important player for the club’s future, and his outstanding mentality will support his development and enable him to deliver his best performances in the period ahead.”

Why Salah Was Not Signed Under Bartomeu

When asked about the possibility of signing Mohamed Salah during his tenure, Bartomeu confirmed the Egyptian star ranked among the world’s elite players but emphasized structural constraints within the squad.

“When I served as Barcelona’s president, it was essential for the club to pursue the very best players globally,” Bartomeu said. “Mohamed Salah was a legendary player who delivered outstanding performances at Liverpool and set numerous records.”

He added: “Salah is a distinctive, top-tier player who forged his own school of play at Liverpool—but signing him at that time was difficult given the presence of Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Luis Suárez.”

Abdelkarim’s emergence follows a striking debut with the first team, as he continues to earn playing time to demonstrate his capabilities amid growing expectations that he will become a central figure in Barcelona’s future lineup.