Barcelona still undecided on activating €3m buy clause for teenage prodigy despite rumours | OneFootball

Hamza Abdelkarim has been the talk of the town today after the 18-year-old FC Barcelona youth forward was named in the Egypt national team squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The teenager arrived at the club in the winter window, signing on loan from Al-Ahly with an option to make the transfer permanent for €3 million.

Even though he was signed with a view to strengthening Barça Atletic, Hamza has only played for the club’s Juvenil A (U-19) team and excelled.

Given his performances at the youth level, it has been reported that Barcelona have decided to activate the €3 million buy option and even potentially involve him in the first-team pre-season in the summer.

No decision yet

However, according to the latest update from Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have still not made a decision on whether Abdelkarim will be signed permanently.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hamza Abdelkarim (@hamzabdelkarim)

The purchase option is worth €3 million, rising to €5 million at most through variables. And even though the Catalans are still undecided, sources within the club admit that it is more than possible that the final answer will be yes.

“Because of his qualities, he has a promising future ahead of him,” they say at the Ciutat Esportiva.

The final word on whether he remains at the club or not belongs to youth football director Jose Ramon Alexanko, who has not yet spoken publicly.

Hamza set to star at the World Cup

The announcement that Hamza Abdelkarim is in the Egypt squad list for the World Cup has caused a major impact in his country.

A future star. (Photo courtesy: FC Barcelona official website)

There was already a lot of excitement surrounding the youngster in the African nation, even more so after his move to Barcelona in the winter.

The bold decision made by national team coach Hossam Hassan, calling up the highly promising Barça striker, who has still not yet played in professional elite football, is another strong indicator of his unlimited potential.

The teenager striker will now find himself alongside world-class footballers such as Mohamed Salah at the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.