Hamza Abdelkarim elated after goalscoring Camp Nou debut: ‘Flick is giving me a lot of confidence’

Hamza Abdelkarim elated after goalscoring Camp Nou debut: ‘Flick is giving me a lot of confidence’ FC Barcelona teenager Hamza Abdelkarim continues to build his case to convince first-team manager Hansi Flick. The Egyptian striker was once again the star of the show in the Joan Gamper Trophy match, putting Barcelona ahead against Al Ahly, the club where he developed, in the Blaugrana’s 2-1 victory . With the goal, he finished pre-season as the Catalans’ top scorer, with four strikes to his name. After the match, the 18-year-old striker, who was signed permanently this summer after six months on loan with the club’s Juvenil A team, spoke to journalist Achraf Ben Ayad in an interview. Hamza euphoric And, the forward could not hide his excitement after such a significant evening. Scoring at Camp Nou against the team that helped him develop made the Gamper Trophy match an even more special occasion for a player who has made the most of the opportunities Flick has given him throughout pre-season. “Thank God, and God willing, this is only the beginning,” he said. Hamza scored on his Camp Nou debut vs his former club. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) Hamza admitted that facing his former team at Camp Nou created a different feeling, as he remarked: “Of course, it’s a different feeling. I’m very happy because this is the club that developed me, and I hope I can live up to their expectations.” Flick’s confidence has been one of his keys The striker was also asked about his first few weeks working under Hansi Flick. Hamza has gradually taken on a bigger role during pre-season, while the German coach has publicly highlighted his qualities as a striker. “Thank God, Hansi is giving me a lot of confidence,” he noted. That confidence has translated into playing time and, above all, goals. Making the most of his chances. (Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images) The interview also gave Hamza an opportunity to address Arab supporters, who followed his performance at the Gamper with particular interest. “Thank you very much, truly. The fans deserve it… they deserved it today,” he said. Hamza has responded to his opportunities with impressive efficiency in front of goal and has increasingly become a genuine option for Barcelona’s No. 9 position. He still has to wait to discover exactly what his role will be once the squad is finalised, but his pre-season performances have changed the picture. Barcelona are still working on the final composition of their attack, but Hamza is doing everything possible to give Flick reasons to keep him around. For now, Hamza is keeping his feet on the ground. But his numbers are beginning to speak for themselves: four goals in pre-season and another impressive performance that has brought him one step closer to Barcelona’s first team.