During the winter transfer window, Barcelona signed 18-year-old Egyptian striker Hamza Abdelkarim.
However, fans eager to see him in action will have to wait longer. According to Mundo Deportivo, Abdelkarim has temporarily returned to Egypt to streamline the bureaucratic process needed to secure his work permit.
Although he is training under Barcelona Athletic manager Juliano Belletti and has impressed the coaching staff, he cannot officially wear the Blaugrana colors until his paperwork is completed, frustrating both parties.
This is not the first time administrative delays have delayed a debut. The club faced similar situations with Mamadou Mbacke and Mikayil Faye, who also had to return to their home countries to speed up documentation.
Since international work permits depend on external government approval, the club cannot set an exact date for his official debut.
Given the ongoing delay and his lack of recent competitive rhythm, an alternative route for the young forward has opened.
Once his work permit is cleared, it is highly likely he will be registered to play his first minutes with Pol Planas’ Juvenil A squad rather than jumping directly into Barcelona Athletic.
This would be a significant boost for the youth ranks. Belletti's squad is currently dealing with several injuries, including Oscar Gisau, Dani Rodriguez, and Ibrahim Diarra.
Meanwhile, Juvenil A has had to adapt by using Adrian Guerrero as a makeshift ‘9’. Abdelkarim’s formal arrival should help matters, but it remains to be seen how soon the bureaucracy will be resolved.
