Barcelona’s winter transfer window saw the exciting addition of 18-year-old Egyptian striker Hamza Abdelkarim.
However, fans eager to see the Al Ahly loanee in action will have to wait a little longer.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Abdelkarim has temporarily returned to Egypt to streamline the bureaucratic process required to secure his work permit.
The waiting game
Despite already training under Barça Atletic manager Juliano Belletti and leaving a highly positive impression on the coaching staff, Abdelkarim cannot officially don the Blaugrana colours until his paperwork is finalised, much to the frustration of both parties.
This is not the first time administrative delays have paused a debut. The club faced similar situations with Mamadou Mbacke and Mikayil Faye, who both had to return to their home countries to speed up documentation.
Hamza Abdelkarim signed for Barcelona youth in the January transfer window. (Photo courtesy: FC Barcelona official website)
Because international work permits rely heavily on external government approval, the club cannot determine an exact date for his official debut.
The ongoing delay, coupled with his lack of recent competitive rhythm, has opened an alternative route for the young forward.
Once his work permit is cleared, it is highly possible he will be registered to play his first minutes with Pol Planas’ Juvenil A squad rather than jumping straight into Barça Atletic.
This would be a massive boost for the youth ranks. Belletti’s squad is currently navigating a severe injury headache, with players like Oscar Gistau, Dani Rodriguez, and Ibrahim Diarra all sidelined.
Meanwhile, Juvenil A has had to reinvent Adrian Guerrero as a makeshift ‘9’. Abdelkarim’s formal arrival should help with things, but it remains to be seen how soon both parties streamline the bureaucracy.