Hamza cools Barça’s hunt for a nine as Flick hails decisive instincts | OneFootball

Two goals from Hamza Abdelkarim in Birmingham briefly eased Barcelona’s need for a centre forward, the 18-year-old Egyptian showing sharp finishing as Deco pursues Hansi Flick’s top request.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, Barça have added Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi to replace Marcus Rashford and Robert Lewandowski, yet both suit similar roles rather than a classic centre forward. Another academy graduate has delivered.

Abdelkarim earned and converted a penalty after outpacing a Birmingham centre-back, then reacted first to a parry to make it 1-2. Flick underlined a striker’s need to seize moments and felt the youngster did exactly that.

Flick also praised Abdelkarim’s humility, character and mindset. In seven months the striker has joined Barcelona Atlètic for a failed promotion push, debuted for Egypt and at the World Cup, skipped holidays for pre-season, then scored both goals in the first public friendly.

Barça’s main target is Julián Álvarez. They offered 100 to Atlético, who point to a 500 clause and a deal to 2030, though the player has asked to move. Chelsea have improved João Pedro’s contract and Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi, 20, is injured. Joan Laporta said the Álvarez offer would expire at the end of July.

Ferran Torres faces uncertainty over a presumed PSG offer. PSG have competed without a traditional nine, yet Luis Enrique may still seek that profile with him, without guaranteed starts. After scoring Spain’s World Cup winner, he has one year left, rejected a renewal, and Flick wants him to stay.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo