Barcelona continues its search for emerging talents in the global market to bring to its renowned La Masia academy, and its focus has now turned to a new Egyptian prospect.
According to Ashraf Ben Ayad, Barcelona has officially expressed interest in signing Hamza Abdel Karim, the 17-year-old striker currently registered with Egyptian club Al Ahly.
Barcelona is not the only major club in the world to have shown interest in Abdel Karim; the Egyptian player was also on Bayern Munich’s radar last summer.
Abdel Karim is described as a striker who is adept at using both feet and is capable of playing not only centrally but also on the right wing. He has recently featured for Al Ahly’s first team.
On the international stage, the teenager has set an impressive record with the Egyptian U-17 national team, scoring 12 goals in 19 matches. His impact extended to the recent U-17 World Cup, where he scored two goals.
It’s clear that Barcelona’s strategy includes adding at least one young, out-and-out striker, and possibly more, to their player development program.
Abdelkarim fits the profile of an exciting long-term option, and one of the key advantages of this approach is the timing of his eligibility. He turns 18 on January 1st, meaning he could join Barcelona early in the winter transfer window, rather than having to wait until next summer.
