Has Barcelona Found Its New Number 9 After Lewandowski?
FC Barcelona is searching for a new number 9 after Robert Lewandowski's departure, following unsuccessful bids for Julian Alvarez and Junior Kroupi. An exciting internal prospect has emerged in 18-year-old Egyptian striker Hamza Abdelkarim, whose loan from Al Ahly was recently made permanent for $1.7 million. Hamza impressed during a preseason match against Birmingham, scoring two crucial goals. Coach Hansi Flick lauded his humility, character, and natural instinct in the box, particularly for his second goal. Media reports praise his maturity and exceptional goalscoring ability. While Barcelona sees great potential, it remains to be seen if Hamza is the long-term solution for the iconic number 9 shirt, especially with Ferran Torres potentially leaving.
FC Barcelona had a new figure wear its iconic number 9 shirt on Friday against Birmingham, for the first time in the post-Robert Lewandowski.
With the Pole having joined the Chicago Fire this summer on a free transfer following four highly successful years in Catalonia, the jersey donned by greats such as Luis Suarez, Samuel Eto’o and Ronaldo Nazario is vacant.
As a reaction to this, we’ve seen what so far look to be failed pursuits of Julian Alvarez - after he reportedly agreed to join the Catalans for five years - and Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupi, who’s now out for three to four months amid having to undergo foot surgery.
Consequently then, Barça might have to look in-house for its next front man, with a candidate stepping forward during Friday’s loss to Birmingham on penalties.
With his loan deal from Al Ahly made permanent for a bargain $1.7 million (€1.5 million) fee ahead of a World Cup campaign for Egypt, Hamza immediately joined Hansi Flick’s first team group in preseason training upon return to Catalonia.
As is common every summer, Hamza is part of a select group of reserve and La Masia stars that get the chance to impress the German, and who might remain a part of the senior fold as we’ve previously seen with the likes of Marc Bernal and Marc Casado.
Through his two goals in a 2-2 regular time draw at St. Andrew’s Stadium, watched by former Birmingham academy product and Real Madrid rival Jude Bellingham, Hamza certainly took a step in the right direction as per becoming a part of the furniture.
“Hamza is very humble and has a good character. He always tries to do his best and has great potential. As a striker you have to appear in those situations inside the box and today he was there. That’s what I ask of a nine,” said Flick post match.
While his first strike was a penalty, the second, as implied by the manager, had Hamza pounce in the box. Perfect positioning allowed him to hit home a rebound, when Roony Bardghji’s long range shot was parried into his path.
SPORT writes that despite his young age of 18, the Egyptian is a “very mature player” with great physical conditions and an “extraordinary goalscoring ability”.
Barcelona reportedly has no doubt that he will kick on at the Spotify Camp Nou. Yet the question remains as to whether he is the 9 they have been searching for yet failing to deliver in fruitless pursuits on the transfer market - especially when Ferran Torres is being linked to Paris Saint-Germain.