Brazilian Raphinha joined the ranks of his Barcelona team after a period of rest following the end of his journey in the 2026 World Cup.
Raphinha bid farewell to the Brazil national team in the round of 16 at the hands of Norway.
Barcelona's preparation period for the new season began days ago without many of the international players.
Raphinha arrived at Barcelona's camp in England on Wednesday.
The international players who participated in the World Cup are scheduled to return to the team gradually.
Raphinha is expected to miss the Blaugrana's friendly match against Birmingham City on Friday.
This match will be decisive for some La Masia academy players with the first team.
Hamza Abdel Karim's name is among the 30 players on the list announced by Barcelona's technical director Hans Flick, which includes some first-team stars and a group of players from the reserve team and the youth team.
A report from Mundo Deportivo explained that Hans Flick's conviction is growing that the La Masia academy is capable of providing the depth Barcelona needs for the upcoming season.
The report added that Hamza Abdel Karim is among the academy players being evaluated as potential solutions for the first team.
The friendly match against Birmingham City on Friday is expected to provide the clearest indicator so far of the players who have already entered Flick's plans for the next season, according to the report.
Egypt national team striker Hamza Abdel Karim flew with Barcelona's first team to England to take part in the pre-season training camp.
Abdel Karim had joined Barcelona's camp in Spain on its first day and preferred not to take a vacation after participating in the World Cup with the Pharaohs.
The Egyptian international started as a starter in the team's first friendly in preparation for the new season, which was against Europa, who play in the third division, on Friday.
Hamza Abdel Karim is supposed to play with Barcelona's reserve team next season, but his chances of appearing with the first team are not few.
Barcelona's preparatory program for the new season came as follows:
- From July 27 to August 3: Training camp in England.
- July 31: Friendly match against Birmingham City.
- August 8: Two friendly matches against Udinese and Nottingham Forest.
- August 19: Match against Al Ahly in the Joan Gamper Cup.
Barcelona player Hamza Abdel Karim decided not to take any rest period after the end of his journey with the Egypt national team in the 2026 World Cup.
The young striker traveled to Spain to join Barcelona's camp directly in preparation for the new season, refusing to take a vacation after his participation with the Egypt national team in the World Cup.
Hamza Abdel Karim's decision comes amid his desire to be present from the first day of the preparation period, in order to prepare in the best possible way for the new season with the Catalan team.
Flick decided to rely on Hamza Abdel Karim and some of the youth to support the first team during the team's preparation period ahead of the new 2026-2027 season.
Hamza's participation with the Egypt national team in the 2026 World Cup increased his stock inside Barcelona, after he played in 4 matches during the tournament.
Barcelona decided to activate the player's purchase clause from Al Ahly for 1.5 million euros after a 6-month loan period.
Abdel Karim scored 6 goals in 11 matches with the youth team in the second half of last season, which prompted the club to insist on signing him permanently.
