Barcelona being patient with 18-year-old winter signing after up-and-down start with reserve team | OneFootball

Barcelona’s long-term planning continues to revolve around identifying and nurturing elite young talent, and one name generating excitement is Hamza Abdelkarim.

According to a report from SPORT, Barcelona maintain complete confidence in the 18-year-old forward, even as his early performances present a mixed picture.

Abdelkarim arrived in January as a signing for the youth setup, initially expected to slot into Barça Atletic. 

However, the club made a deliberate decision to integrate him more gradually by placing him in the Juvenil A side. 

The idea was to allow the youngster to adapt step by step to Barcelona’s unique playing style rather than rushing his development.

That approach has already shown signs of intent from the coaching staff.

Barcelona are impressed

The level of trust placed in Abdelkarim is evident from his immediate involvement. 

He has started all three matches since his arrival, including the Division de Honor Juvenil opener against Huesca and two high-pressure fixtures in the Copa del Rey Final Four.

His debut performance against Huesca offered a glimpse of why Barcelona pushed to secure his signature. 

The forward scored a goal and won a penalty, instantly raising expectations around his potential impact.

However, the following matches in the Copa del Rey painted a more subdued picture, with Abdelkarim struggling to leave a similar mark. Naturally, that has slightly tempered the initial excitement.

Still, within the club, there is no sense of doubt.

No doubts about quality

Barcelona are fully aware that development at this stage is rarely linear. 

In fact, recent history has shown that not every promising youngster immediately adapts to the demands of wearing the Blaugrana shirt, and the club is keen to avoid placing unnecessary pressure on Abdelkarim too early.

Instead, there is a strong belief that the forward possesses the qualities to become a standout player in the future. 

His early flashes have already hinted at that potential, and the club is confident that with time, consistency will follow.