Barcelona’s Hamza Abdelkarim receives huge praise from Egypt manager and national team legend: ‘A tremendous player’

Hamza Abdelkarim is becoming one of the most talked-about young footballers in Egypt, with his emergence for the national team and move to Barcelona turning the teenager into a major figure back home.

The 18-year-old has already experienced a remarkable rise, as his performances for Egypt’s youth sides helped put him on the national team’s radar, while his move to Barcelona has taken his profile to another level.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan has shown little hesitation in trusting the young striker. 

He included Abdelkarim in his World Cup squad, and the Barcelona forward could now be handed his first start in the senior team against South Sudan.

“He is a tremendous player and a great prospect. We must be patient, but he is certainly set to play a bigger role from now on and already has the chance to get more playing time. He is ready,” said the Egypt manager.

Abdelkarim emerging behind Mohamed Salah

Abdelkarim’s profile has grown even further because of the role he has played alongside Egypt’s biggest star.

Hamza Abdelkarim is making waves in the Egypt national team. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

The Barcelona striker has been introduced from the bench for Mohamed Salah in each of his recent appearances, giving fans an opportunity to see the country’s next generation alongside one of its most established figures.

That has naturally created considerable excitement around Abdelkarim. 

Egypt have long valued prolific forwards, and the emergence of a young striker at Barcelona has only intensified expectations surrounding his future with the Pharaohs.

On that note, former Egypt international Hossam Ghaly is among those impressed by what he has seen. 

The former midfielder believes Abdelkarim already possesses characteristics that can separate top forwards from the rest.

Barcelona and Egypt have high hopes for Hamza Abdelkarim. (Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images)

“Hamza is a promising player and a very strong striker, and I hope he gets more playing time with the national team so that we can assess him. 

“I’ve loved what I’ve seen of him, and there are already players who, from the way they play, you can tell are in a league of their own. Hamza is one of them,” he noted.

Egypt legend highlights Abdelkarim’s striker instincts

Ghaly also believes Abdelkarim’s movement could become one of his biggest weapons if Egypt provide him with the right service.

“But he’s a different kind of striker; he goes for the ball and positions himself correctly in every attack, so he needs plenty of crosses coming his way, but the national team wasn’t providing them. 

“If they do, he could be a very, very important goalscorer for Egyptian football,” Ghaly concluded.

Source: SPORT