Flick promises a surprise at number nine. Hamza could start against Elche
Barcelona spent the summer searching for a new striker in Madrid, Milan and probably every database available to Deco. The solution to their number nine problem may have been much closer all along: 18-year-old Hamza Abdelkarim.
Hansi Flick refused to reveal who will lead Barcelona’s attack against Elche on Sunday. The German did confirm that he has already made his decision and suggested that an unexpected choice could be coming.
“We have many options within the team. Of course, I know who will play. There might even be a surprise tomorrow,” Flick said at his pre-match press conference.
The coach did not mention Abdelkarim by name, so the Egyptian’s place in the starting XI should not be presented as confirmed. Reuters reports, however, that the teenager is genuinely in contention to lead the attack. Hamza also trained with the first team during Barcelona’s final session before the trip to Elche.
Very few people expected this possibility when pre-season began. Abdelkarim joined Barcelona’s youth setup from Al Ahly during the winter window after struggling to earn regular first-team football in Egypt. He scored six goals for the under-19 side and convinced Barcelona to exercise their purchase option. In June, he signed a permanent contract running until 30 June 2029.
His position changed dramatically during the summer. Abdelkarim cut short his post-World Cup holiday to join Flick’s preparations early. He responded by scoring four goals in five warm-up appearances, finishing pre-season as Barcelona’s leading scorer.
His first senior outing produced two goals against Birmingham City. He then scored only four minutes after coming on in Basel before finding the net against his former club Al Ahly in the Joan Gamper Trophy.
Hamza is not a winger being moved inside as an emergency solution or another experiment with a false nine. He is a natural centre-forward who looks for space inside the penalty area, competes physically with defenders and offers a reference point with his back to goal. Following the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, he is also one of the few players at the club naturally suited to the position.
Barcelona spent much of the summer being linked with Julián Álvarez and later Lautaro Martínez. Atlético Madrid have no intention of selling the first, while Inter do not even want to begin negotiations over the second. Flick insists that he is not concerned by the absence of a new striker and believes the current squad already gives him several options.
Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, Karim Adeyemi and Anthony Gordon could all be used in more central roles. The real surprise would be selecting the teenager who was expected to continue his development away from the senior spotlight.
One match against Elche will not determine whether Abdelkarim can become Barcelona’s first-choice striker for the season. Even a place in the starting XI would primarily be a reward for an excellent pre-season and a response to the current squad situation. It would still represent a remarkable promotion: from youth football to leading the Spanish champions’ attack in their opening league fixture.
Barcelona begin their title defence at the Estadio Martínez Valero on Sunday, 23 August, at 21:30 CEST. After spending the summer looking for a new number nine, Flick could open the season with a striker originally signed for the club’s youth ranks.
The expensive solution remains on the wish list. The obvious one has just scored four goals in five matches.
Sources: beIN Sports – Hansi Flick’s comments, Reuters – Hamza competing for a first-team place, FC Barcelona – Hamza’s four pre-season goals, FC Barcelona – final training session
