Mundo Deportivo reported that Barcelona's friendly match against Birmingham City on Friday will decide the fate of some La Masia academy players with the first team.
Hamza Abdel Karim's name was included among 30 players in the list announced by Barcelona's technical director Hans Flick, which includes some first-team stars and a group of reserve and youth team players.
The report explained that Hans Flick's conviction is growing that the La Masia academy can provide the depth Barcelona needs for the next 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 may provide the clearest indication so far of the players who have already entered Flick's plans for the next season, according to the report.
Hamza Abdel Karim, the Egypt national team striker, traveled with Barcelona's first team to England to participate 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 in the team's first friendly match in preparation for the new season, which was against Europa, a third-division team, on Friday.
Hamza Abdel Karim is expected to play with Barcelona's reserve team next season, but his chances of appearing with the first team are not slim.
The list included the injured Frenkie de Jong, while Brazilian Raphinha joined it on Wednesday.
The international players who participated in the World Cup are scheduled to return to the team gradually.
Barcelona's pre-season program for the new season is 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 after 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 participating 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 club.
Flick decided to rely on Hamza Abdel Karim and some of the youth to support the first team during the team's pre-season preparation for the new 2026-2027 season.
Hamza's participation with the Egypt national team in the 2026 World Cup increased his stock within Barcelona, after playing 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.
