Report: Barcelona coaching staff taking special interest in 18-year-old forward’s development

Report: Barcelona coaching staff taking special interest in 18-year-old forward’s development Barcelona may be on the verge of completing deals to sign two players in Joao Cancelo and Rodri this week. But the club are still yet to find a new striker. Their pursuit of Julian Alvarez hasn’t progressed much, with Atletico Madrid still not too keen on parting ways with their star player. This has forced Barcelona to consider alternatives, and while the club have been linked with a move for Viktor Gyokeres recently, they have an in-house option in Hamza Abdelkarim. Hamza being trained to become the ultimate striker A recent report from Mundo Deportivo has offered some perspective on how Barcelona are looking at the option of Hamza Abdelkarim. Abdelkarim impressed in the friendly against FC Basel. (Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images) According to the report, Hamza impressed the coaching staff from his very first training session, quickly showcasing the natural instincts of a genuine goalscorer. During a special finishing session designed to assess the young striker, the technical team took note of his ability to shoot, whether curling efforts into the far corner or poacher’s finishes at the near post. One of his early headers also stunned those present, both for its power and the quality of its execution, further underlining the raw tools the Egyptian possesses. Refining his movement The coaching staff, however, have been working hard to fine-tune a key aspect of his game. Does Hamza have what it takes to become the Barcelona frontman? (Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images) At the start of his trial, Hamza noticed that Barcelona’s forwards often drop deep into midfield to receive the ball, and he began imitating that style himself. Pol Planas and his technical team have since worked to reduce that tendency, asking him to leave the penalty area only when the play genuinely requires it. The staff have used videos of Erling Haaland, Viktor Gyokeres and Barcelona legend Samuel Eto’o to develop his movement, with the clear aim of keeping him inside the box and in dangerous goalscoring positions. The philosophy is to keep Hamza close to the penalty area where he can do most damage, the very same approach Hansi Flick is applying with him. It is an encouraging sign for Barcelona, who may yet lean on the young Egyptian should their pursuit of a marquee striker fail to materialise before the window closes.