Barcelona's ongoing search for a striker this summer has yet to bear fruit, but the answer to their No. 9 problem may already be within the club's walls. Youngster Hamza Abdelkarim has been a standout performer during pre-season training and reinforced his case by scoring the opening goal in the Joan Gamper Trophy against his former side Al Ahly.

While Abdelkarim is expected to begin the season with Barcelona Atletic under Juliano Belletti, the 19-year-old may have played his way into first-team consideration after catching the eye of head coach Hansi Flick.

The Barca boss was full of praise for the striker following his Gamper Trophy performance, telling reporters: "Hamza is a good striker. We can see it when he attacks crosses. Today I saw him holding onto the ball, which is good. This is what I want to see from him."

Those words from Flick are significant given Barcelona's well-documented struggles in the transfer market this summer. The club's pursuit of Julian Alvarez appears to have stalled, with the forward seemingly set to remain at Atletico Madrid. Barcelona's next reported target, Lautaro Martinez, also looks difficult to prise away from Inter Milan, leaving the Catalan giants still searching for a reliable goal-scorer ahead of the new campaign.

With external options narrowing, the debate is growing around whether Abdelkarim — who has impressed not just with his finishing but also his hold-up play and movement — deserves a genuine first-team opportunity. His ability to attack crosses and retain possession aligns with what Flick demands from his forward line.

However, there is a counter-argument: Abdelkarim remains relatively inexperienced at the elite level, and a full season with Barcelona Atletic under Belletti's guidance could be the more prudent path for his long-term development.

For now, the youngster has certainly made his mark. Whether Flick decides to fast-track him into the first-team squad or send him down to continue his education with the reserves remains one of the intriguing subplots of Barcelona's summer. What is clear is that Hamza Abdelkarim has put himself firmly in the conversation.