Barcelona's reported signing of Hamza Abdel Karim could save the club €150 million, according to a report from the UAE-based outlet Al Bayan.
The claim comes as the Egyptian forward, dubbed "the Pharaoh" in regional media, made a strong start with the Catalan club. Sky News Arabia reported that Abdel Karim scored twice in a Barcelona shirt, while Gate of Ahram noted he netted a brace in a friendly against Birmingham City.
The financial figure cited by Al Bayan is tied to the broader context of Barcelona's squad planning. Yalla Kora reported that Abdel Karim could eventually take over the center-forward role from veteran Robert Lewandowski. If the young Egyptian is groomed as the long-term successor, the club would avoid spending heavily on a marquee striker in a future transfer window, which is where the reported €150 million in savings would come from.
The friendly against Birmingham ended in a draw, according to Masrawy, which also outlined Barcelona's upcoming fixture schedule. The match served as an early showcase for Abdel Karim, who is already generating headlines across Arabic-language sports media.
Barcelona's pre-season is still in its early stages, and the club's next match will offer another chance to see how Abdel Karim fits into the team's attacking plans. Whether he can maintain his scoring form and eventually displace Lewandowski remains to be seen, but the early signs, and the reported financial windfall, suggest the club's investment is already paying off.
