According to an official statement from the Egyptian Football Association released on Tuesday, the organization received a formal correspondence from FC Barcelona regarding their player Hamza Abdel Karim, who recently returned to Cairo. This letter included optimistic updates about the forward’s prospects within the Catalan club.
Hamza Abdel Karim, the young Egyptian striker on loan from Al Ahly to Barcelona, had returned to Cairo amidst delays in completing the administrative procedures required for his participation with Barcelona Atlètic. Despite actively engaging in the team’s training sessions, his official debut remains postponed due to unresolved paperwork, primarily the acquisition of a work permit essential for his eligibility in competitive matches.
Administrative Hurdles and Club Expectations
The Egyptian Football Association issued a formal communiqué stating: “The association has been officially notified by the management of FC Barcelona of the urgent necessity for the young player, Hamza Abdel Karim, to rejoin the Catalan squad within the coming hours.”
The Spanish club elaborated in their letter that the procedures related to securing the work permit and other crucial legal documentation, ensuring the player’s lawful and continuous residence in Spain, are nearing completion. Consequently, the player’s physical presence is required imminently to finalize these formalities and to resume training, thereby guaranteeing his ongoing involvement in the club’s sporting project.
Although Hamza holds significant sporting value for the national team, his early departure from the training camp was sanctioned by the technical staff, led by Wael Riyad. This decision aimed to preclude any legal complications that could jeopardize his registration or official participation with Barcelona in forthcoming competitions.
It is noteworthy that the coaching staff of the national youth team summoned Hamza Abdel Karim to join the training camp for players born in 2007, currently taking place at the National Teams Center. However, immediately upon his arrival and prior to his integration into the camp, the notification from Barcelona demanding his return was received.