Barcelona Manager Faces Criticism in Egypt Over Abdelkarim’s Limited First-Team Role

According to a report by Barca Universal on Wednesday October 21, 2026, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is facing scrutiny in Egypt over Hamza Abdelkarim’s limited involvement with the senior team, despite the young striker impressing during pre-season.

The Egyptian forward scored four goals before returning to Barça Atlètic, prompting questions about whether the club is providing the right environment for his development.

Abdelkarim had raised expectations with his impressive pre-season performances, which suggested that he could move closer to regular first-team opportunities. However, increased competition for attacking positions has made his breakthrough more difficult.

According to SPORT, Al Jazeera has examined whether returning to Barcelona’s reserve team represents a setback or a necessary step in the youngster’s development. The assessment emphasised the importance of regular playing time, suggesting that consistent appearances for Barça Atlètic could benefit him more than limited opportunities with Flick’s senior squad.

The debate surrounding the Barcelona manager is not entirely new. In early September, Goal Arabia published an article titled “Flick Isn’t Targeting Hamza Abdelkarim.” Journalist Ali Rifat questioned the criticism directed at the German coach by some Egyptian supporters and urged patience with the developing forward.

A productive pre-season does not automatically guarantee a place in a competitive first team. Barcelona’s existing attacking options and the emergence of other players have also complicated Abdelkarim’s chances of securing a regular role.

However, the club’s long-term commitment suggests that his potential remains highly valued. Barcelona recently extended his contract until 2030 and increased his release clause to €150 million.

Although these terms do not guarantee an immediate promotion, they indicate that the club has not necessarily lost confidence in the youngster. Abdelkarim has also continued making progress with Barça Atlètic, scoring recently before earning a place in the travelling squad for the Champions League trip to face Paris Saint-Germain.

For now, consistent performances with the reserve side could prove crucial to his development. Barcelona appear prepared to give him time, although scrutiny in Egypt may continue until his route into Flick’s first team becomes clearer.

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