Barcelona have highlighted Hamza Abdelkarim’s goalscoring potential after the Egyptian teenager impressed again in their 5-2 friendly win over Basel ahead of the new season.
The 18-year-old striker came on at half-time in place of Anthony Gordon and needed only three minutes to make an impact, scoring Barcelona’s second goal of the match. His latest contribution further underlined the finishing ability that has attracted attention throughout the club’s preparations.
Barcelona celebrated Abdelkarim’s performance on their official account on X, posting a photograph of the forward after he found the net. The club accompanied the image with the message: “Hamza has goals in him. Lots of them.”
The post represents a strong public show of confidence in Abdelkarim, who has emerged as one of the most notable surprises of Barcelona’s pre-season campaign. His displays in the club’s friendly matches have helped raise expectations about his possible involvement with the senior side when competitive football begins.
Abdelkarim has featured in every one of Barcelona’s preparation matches before the start of the season. That consistent involvement has increased the possibility of him making further appearances for the first team, particularly after Ferran Torres moved to Paris Saint-Germain.
Barcelona do not currently have an established out-and-out striker in Hansi Flick’s squad, according to the source article, giving Abdelkarim an opportunity to strengthen his claim for a more prominent role.
The forward will face an unusual test on Wednesday, when Barcelona meet his former club Al Ahly in the Joan Gamper Trophy at Camp Nou. The friendly will give Abdelkarim the chance to play against the side he previously represented while continuing his push for recognition at Barcelona.
His goal against Basel came shortly after his introduction and added to a series of encouraging moments during the club’s summer schedule. Barcelona’s latest message suggests the teenager’s performances have not gone unnoticed internally, with the club now publicly drawing attention to his natural instinct in front of goal.
The 5-2 victory formed part of Barcelona’s preparations for the forthcoming season. For Abdelkarim, however, the match provided another opportunity to demonstrate that his influence is not limited to simply gaining experience in pre-season.
His next appearance could carry added significance, as he faces Al Ahly at Camp Nou in a match that combines Barcelona’s final preparations with a reunion against the Egyptian club. The meeting will also offer another chance for the young forward to show why he has become such a prominent figure in Barcelona’s build-up to the new campaign.
