According to a report by Barca Universal on Wednesday October 21, 2026, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is facing scrutiny in Egypt over the limited prominence of young striker Hamza Abdelkarim, whose progress towards the first team has attracted growing attention following an impressive pre-season.

The Egyptian forward caught the eye during Barcelona’s preparations for the campaign, scoring four goals and raising expectations that he could earn opportunities with the senior squad. However, he has since returned to Barça Atlètic, Barcelona’s reserve team, as competition for attacking positions continues to make a first-team breakthrough difficult.

According to reports cited by Barca Universal, Abdelkarim’s situation has become a talking point in Egyptian media, with questions being raised about whether his current pathway is the best route towards senior football.

The debate centres on whether Flick should give the youngster more opportunities with the first team or allow him to continue developing through regular appearances at reserve level.

Abdelkarim’s pre-season performances naturally raised hopes among supporters, but scoring goals during preparations does not guarantee a place in a competitive senior squad. Barcelona must also consider his consistency, tactical development and ability to compete with established attacking options.

Egyptian media have previously questioned Flick’s approach to the youngster. In early September, Goal Arabia published an article titled “Flick isn’t targeting Hamza Abdelkarim”, with journalist Ali Rifat questioning the criticism directed at the Barcelona manager and urging supporters to remain patient.

The argument is that Abdelkarim is still at an early stage of his development and should not be judged solely on how quickly he breaks into Barcelona’s first team.

Barcelona’s long-term commitment to the striker also provides an important part of the picture. The club reportedly extended his contract until 2030 and raised his release clause to €150 million, indicating that it continues to value his potential.

Although those contractual terms do not guarantee immediate first-team involvement, they suggest that his current absence from Flick’s regular plans should not automatically be interpreted as a loss of confidence.

There have also been encouraging signs in recent weeks. Abdelkarim reportedly scored for Barça Atlètic before being included in the travelling squad for Barcelona’s European trip to face Paris Saint-Germain.

Such developments suggest that the forward remains within the club’s wider sporting plans, even if a regular role in the senior squad has yet to materialise.

For Abdelkarim, consistent performances with Barça Atlètic could prove more valuable than limited minutes with the first team. Regular football would give him opportunities to improve his movement, finishing and decision-making while adapting to the demands of senior-level competition.

Nevertheless, the attention from Egypt is unlikely to disappear while supporters wait for clearer evidence of his progress towards the first team.

Flick must balance the expectations surrounding a promising young talent with the demands of competing at the highest level. Giving Abdelkarim opportunities will depend on his development, performances and the needs of the senior squad rather than the pressure surrounding his name.