Barcelona winter signing’s debut with reserve team delayed by bureaucratic issues, no date set | OneFootball

FC Barcelona worked hard to secure the signing of Hamza Abdelkarim from Al Ahly in the winter transfer window.

The 18-year-old striker arrived on loan until the end of the season to strengthen the reserve team, Barça Atletic, with the Blaugrana retaining an option to make his transfer permanent.

However, nearly three weeks after his arrival, Abdelkarim has yet to make his debut for Juliano Belletti’s team.

Why the delay?

According to Mundo Deportivo, Abdelkarim is waiting to obtain the work permit that will allow him to play for Barça Atletic. From the offices at the Ciutat Esportiva, it is stated that there is no exact forecast as to when the approval will be received.

For now, he has already taken part in several training sessions since his arrival was announced on 1 February. However, the bureaucratic process continues at its own pace.

The Egyptian forward is waiting to complete all the necessary procedures to obtain a work permit, something that does not follow a fixed timetable because “it is not an exact science”.

Hamza Abdelkarim joined Barcelona in the winter window. (Photo courtesy: FC Barcelona official website)

Barcelona have no alternative but to wait for the entire documentation process to be resolved. No deadlines can be set.

Positive impression in training

In the meantime, Abdelkarim is training normally under Belletti’s orders. The Egyptian striker arrived in Barcelona in good physical condition and has made a positive first impression in training.

That Hamza is a promising footballer with strong potential has been evident in the few sessions he has completed with Barça Atletic.

It is not the first time that bureaucracy has delayed the debut of an African player with the reserve team. It previously happened with Mamadou Mbacke and Mikayil Faye. And Barça have no option but to wait.

Meanwhile, the other two prospects signed by Barça Atletic in this winter transfer window, Patricio Pacifico and Juwensley Onstein, have not yet made their debuts either.

Pacifico is completing his final preparations to overcome muscle discomfort, while Juwensley Onstein has accumulated a period of inactivity that calls for gradual readaptation.