Hamza Abdelkarim’s future at FC Barcelona is far from being sealed. Announced as almost finalized just a few days ago, the Egyptian striker’s loan is now completely bogged down according to Sport. As the documents appeared to be being exchanged and the player was preparing to travel to Catalonia, the situation suddenly changed. Hamza Abdelkarim ultimately stayed in Egypt and even played the last minutes of Al Ahly’s match against Pharco in the League Cup, tangible proof that the case is at a standstill.
The blockage stems from a major contractual disagreement. Al Ahly requires a prior extension of the player’s contract, currently linked to the club until 2027, before authorizing a loan to Barça with a purchase option. A condition refused by Abdelkarim and his entourage, fearing to lose control of his future. The Egyptian club wants to protect itself, fearing that a return of the player after a stint in Spain will weaken its market value. If the discussions have not been broken off, they are frozen for the moment, despite a financial agreement already defined around a €5 million loan and bonuses linked to performance. To be continued…
