Hamza Abdelkarim could be handed a chance to make a bigger impact for Barcelona against Getafe after Rafinha returned from international duty with a minor muscle injury.
The possibility of the Egyptian striker featuring in Saturday’s Spanish League match was reported by Spanish newspaper Sport, which says Barcelona manager Hansi Flick must now decide whether to rest Rafinha as a precaution.
Rafinha suffered a minor muscle strain in his right thigh while on international duty. Although medical examinations found no serious injury, Barcelona’s coaching and medical teams are considering managing his recovery carefully.
With a demanding run of matches ahead in both the Spanish League and the Champions League, Flick could decide not to risk Rafinha against Getafe. The decision would be aimed at preventing the injury from becoming more serious and affecting the Brazilian’s availability in the coming weeks.
If Rafinha is left out of the starting line-up, Barcelona have several attacking alternatives available to Flick.
Sport identifies Brazilian Gabriel Jesus as the leading candidate to take Rafinha’s place. Jesus has quickly adapted to Barcelona since joining during the last summer transfer window and remained in the city during the international break, allowing him to focus on reaching his best physical condition.
The Brazilian has scored two goals for Barcelona after coming on as a substitute, strengthening his case for a starting role against Getafe.
However, Sport also lists Abdelkarim among the attacking options available to Flick.
The young Egyptian has been looking for more opportunities to demonstrate his ability after receiving only limited playing time with Barcelona’s first team since the beginning of the season.
Abdelkarim will return to Barcelona with added confidence after scoring his first goal for the Egypt national team during the international break.
The striker found the net in Egypt’s match against South Sudan, giving him an important boost as he competes for greater involvement at club level.
His international goal could increase his chances of being considered by Flick, although Sport says Jesus remains the most likely player to replace Rafinha if the Brazilian winger is rested.
Barcelona’s manager therefore has several attacking options to choose from as he manages the squad during a busy period.
Sport concluded that Flick’s depth in attack gives him considerable flexibility when rotating his players, allowing him to protect Rafinha from unnecessary risk while creating opportunities for other members of the squad, including Abdelkarim, to demonstrate their value.
