Barcelona have turned their attention to renewing the contracts of three emerging talents, including Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim, after completing their summer transfer business.
The Catalan club closed the summer window last Tuesday having signed five players. Sporting director Deco is now assessing the club’s Financial Fair Play position after those additions, while also taking into account the wage space created by departing players, including Robert Lewandowski, Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres.
With the transfer window closed, Barcelona’s sporting department has shifted its focus towards protecting the members of the squad regarded as strategically important, according to Spanish newspaper Marca.
The club deliberately avoided opening renewal negotiations while the market remained active, with its priorities then centred on identifying new signings and managing expected departures. That work has now been completed, allowing discussions over new contracts to begin.
Barcelona have identified Marc Bernal, Hamza Abdelkarim and Xavi Espart as their three main renewal targets.
Bernal talks already under way
Initial contact has already been made regarding Marc Bernal. Deco met the midfielder’s representative last August, shortly after Barcelona completed the signing of Rodri.
The meeting was intended to reassure Bernal that the arrival of the Spain captain would not affect his own progress or prospects at the club. Barcelona also wanted to demonstrate the extent of their confidence in him, while presenting a proposal to improve and extend his current agreement.
Bernal’s contract currently runs until 2029, but Barcelona want to add a further two years. They also plan to improve his financial terms in recognition of the high level of performance he has delivered.
The club are keen to avoid any unexpected developments in the situation. They are aware that a number of clubs would be willing to pay substantial sums to sign Bernal, attracted both by his technical quality and his age.
Abdelkarim’s release clause in focus
A more urgent contract adjustment concerns Hamza Abdelkarim, whose development has accelerated dramatically.
At the end of last season, Barcelona activated an option to buy the Egyptian striker for €1.5m after he had been included in the Egypt squad for the World Cup.
Abdelkarim made only a limited number of appearances during the club’s time in the United States but made a very positive impression, according to Marca. He then finished as Barcelona’s leading scorer during their preparations for the new campaign.
As a result, the existing €15m release clause is considered outdated. Deco is expected to work on an improved contract for the forward, with Barcelona aiming to increase the clause to €150m.
The club also want to strengthen Abdelkarim’s long-term connection with Barcelona and assess the role he can establish for himself this season. He faces competition from some of the best players in the world, while the arrival of Gabriel Jesus is another factor that could make his route into the team more difficult.
Espart rewarded for strong start
The third player Barcelona want to renew is Xavi Espart. The academy graduate has emerged as one of the biggest surprises of pre-season and the opening league matches after establishing himself at left-back.
Barcelona intend to improve his contract as recognition of the level he has shown. However, there is no immediate need to reach an agreement, as Espart’s current deal does not expire until 2028.
The club nevertheless do not want the renewal process to be delayed for too long as they continue to build around a group of promising young players.
