Barcelona youngster Hamza Abdelkarim has received valuable advice from former player and coach Eusebio Sacristan following his recent return to Barça Atletic.
The Egyptian striker's run of first-team call-ups ended against Betis, as he returned to the reserve side . It was an important decision that Barca had to make at some point.
As quoted by Diario SPORT , Eusebio believes the 18-year-old should view his involvement with the reserves as a positive step rather than a setback to his ambitions.
Hamza was left out of Barcelona's squad for Saturday's 5-2 victory over Real Betis following Raphinha's return to fitness.
Instead, the youngster featured for Barça Atletic, scoring in their Segunda RFEF victory over Utebo, showcasing his quality in front of goal.
Hamza dropped into the reserve team ahead of the Real Betis game. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Speaking to Erem News, Eusebio explained why this arrangement could benefit the Egyptian's long-term development.
"Playing with the reserve team will be another important stage in his growth as a player,"the former Barcelona midfielder said.
He also highlighted the value of Hamza training regularly alongside Flick's senior squad, where he continues to learn from more experienced players.
However, Eusebio stressed that training alone is insufficient for a young footballer who needs competitive minutes.
The former Barça Atletic coach also encouraged Hamza to remain calm and trust Flick's decisions.
Hamza's situation reflects a familiar challenge at Barcelona, where talented youngsters can quickly find themselves caught between first-team exposure and the need for regular football.
Hamza deserves regular minutes to continue his development. (Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images)
Training with Flick is undoubtedly beneficial, but sitting on the bench every weekend would offer limited opportunities to develop his game.
His goal against Utebo provides an encouraging reminder of what consistent competitive involvement can offer.
At just 18, Hamza has his entire career ahead of him, and being in the first-team conversation is already a major achievement.
The club's priority should be to ensure he continues to develop while remaining connected to the first-team environment.
His ambition to succeed at Barça is obvious, but his chance will come. It remains to be seen how Flick manages his development.
