Barcelona could hand Egyptian forward Hamza Abdel Karim a starting role in their La Liga season opener against Elche, according to multiple reports from Arabic sports outlets including Kooora and Youm7.
Kooora's preview of the match highlights Abdel Karim as a key talking point for the Catalan side's expected lineup. The outlet notes that Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has not ruled out the possibility of the young striker leading the attack in the fixture, as reported by Youm7's coverage of Flick's pre-match comments.
The match marks the beginning of the 2026-27 La Liga campaign, with Barcelona hosting Elche. Abdel Karim's potential appearance would make him the third Egyptian player to feature in Spain's top division, according to Youm7. The report from Masrawy also reviewed the previous contributions of Egyptian players in La Liga ahead of Abdel Karim's anticipated debut.
Abdel Karim's rise has drawn significant attention in the Egyptian and Spanish press. Yalla Kora described him as a "150 million euro gem" who has solved Barcelona's attacking puzzle, while other outlets have framed his emergence as a surprise success story. The forward reportedly joined Barcelona with little fanfare but has quickly become a central figure in the club's plans.
The exact details of Abdel Karim's transfer fee and contract terms have not been independently confirmed, and reports vary on the specifics of his valuation. What is clear from the coverage is that the Egyptian international is expected to play a prominent role as Barcelona begins its league campaign.
All eyes will be on the team sheet when Barcelona faces Elche, with Abdel Karim's inclusion set to be confirmed or denied shortly before kickoff.
