Mohamed Abdelkarim says his son Hamza’s first-team debut for Barcelona was not a surprise to the family after the Egyptian forward made his first official appearance for the Catalan club.
Hamza Abdelkarim was introduced as a substitute in Barcelona’s 5-2 La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano last Monday. The appearance marked the first time he had played for the club’s senior side in a competitive fixture.
His father, Mohamed, spoke about the milestone and offered an insight into the player’s character. He said the debut had not come unexpectedly, suggesting that Hamza’s progress had been clear to those closest to him.
The match against Rayo Vallecano provided Abdelkarim with his first opportunity to represent Barcelona’s first team in an official La Liga game. His involvement came from the substitutes’ bench, with Barcelona completing a 5-2 result.
Abdelkarim is Egyptian and previously played in his home country for Al Ahly. His move to Barcelona cost the Catalan club €1.5m.
The transfer represents a significant step in the young forward’s career, taking him from Al Ahly to one of European football’s most recognised clubs. His first-team involvement now means he has made the transition from developing within the club structure to appearing in an official match for Barcelona’s senior side.
Mohamed’s comments focused both on the debut itself and on his son’s personality as a footballer. The available report does not provide further details about the qualities he highlighted when discussing Hamza’s character, but it records that the family did not regard the Barcelona appearance as a shock.
For Barcelona, the 5-2 meeting with Rayo Vallecano was the match in which Abdelkarim made that landmark appearance. For his family, however, it was presented as the latest stage of a progression that had already been anticipated.
The forward’s route to the Barcelona first team began with Al Ahly in Egypt before his €1.5m transfer to the Catalan club. His substitute appearance in La Liga has now added an important entry to his career record, while Mohamed’s assessment underlined the confidence surrounding his son’s development.
No further match details about Abdelkarim’s contribution are included in the source report. The central point remains that the Egyptian attacker has made his official Barcelona debut, and that his father believes the occasion was consistent with the progress he had already shown.