Hamza Abdelkarim has returned to Barcelona training after completing his international commitments with Egypt, as Hansi Flick’s side prepare for Saturday’s La Liga meeting with Getafe.
The Egyptian striker took part in Barcelona’s group session under German coach Flick as the club continued preparations for the eighth round of the Spanish league.
Abdelkarim was among a number of Barcelona players to return to training after representing their respective national teams during the October international break.
The 19-year-old was involved in three matches for Egypt during the break, featuring in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Angola and South Sudan before playing in the friendly against South Africa.
His international spell also brought a significant personal moment after he scored his first goal for Egypt in the 5-0 victory over South Sudan.
That goal provided Abdelkarim with a boost as he returned to Barcelona, where he is continuing his efforts to establish himself within the first-team plans.
Flick has now seen most of his international players return as Barcelona prepare for the visit to Getafe. The German coach had been working with a reduced group during the international window because of the number of players away on international duty.
The return of those players gives Flick more options ahead of the match, although the coach must also consider their physical condition after their commitments with their national teams.
The amount of playing time accumulated by each player during the break will be an important consideration as Barcelona prepare for the weekend fixture.
Brazilian Rafinha remains away from group training after returning early from international duty because of pain in his thigh.
For Abdelkarim, the return to Barcelona comes as he continues to push for a greater role with the Catalan club.
The Egyptian has become a permanent Barcelona player after the club activated the option to sign him from Al-Ahly last June. He subsequently agreed a contract that keeps him at the Catalan club until June 2029.
His return follows an encouraging period with Egypt, where he made three appearances and scored his first international goal.
The striker will now turn his attention back to Barcelona as he competes for a place in Flick’s plans. His latest international experience and his goal against South Sudan have provided added confidence as he continues to seek more opportunities with the first team.
With the Getafe match approaching, Abdelkarim has returned to the Barcelona training group at a time when Flick is bringing his international players back into the squad and assessing their readiness for the next league fixture.
