Barça mirrors Yamal blueprint for Hamza Abdel Karim's gradual rise

Hamza Abdel Karim has captured significant attention following his first goal for the Egyptian senior national team against South Sudan during the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The young Barcelona forward’s strike marked a new phase in his career, demonstrating that his talent extends beyond club appearances. Media outlets have widely praised the player, often referred to as the "Egyptian Haaland," with expectations of a promising future.

Gradual development plan at Camp Nou

According to sources cited by Goal, Abdel Karim is evolving into a sporting and media phenomenon in Egypt after scoring his debut international goal. The report highlights that this achievement reinforces hopes for him becoming one of Egyptian football’s most prominent talents in upcoming years, given his notable physical and technical capabilities for his age.

Hansi Flick, Barcelona’s head coach, is managing Abdel Karim’s progression carefully, adopting an approach similar to how he handled Spanish youngster Lamine Yamal during his early days with the first team. The strategy involves granting the Egyptian striker calculated opportunities to play with the senior squad throughout the season. This method aims to help him gain experience and adapt to high-level competition environments, preparing him to eventually shoulder responsibility as the number 9.

Rejection of winter loan options

Despite recent rumors suggesting a potential exit to secure more playing time, Barcelona intends to keep Abdel Karim within the first-team setup for the current campaign. The club opposes any loan move during the winter transfer window. Technical staff members aim to provide the young forward with between 10 and 15 matches alongside the senior side before the season concludes. This target seeks to accelerate his development and impart necessary experience without imposing pressures exceeding his age.

Flick believes Abdel Karim possesses the artistic and physical attributes required to become a future option in Barcelona’s attack. Meanwhile, the player continues to attract scrutiny through his performances with the Egyptian national team, having recently netted his first international goal wearing the Pharaohs’ jersey.