Egyptian young striker Hamza Abdelkarim has made his decision ahead of the new season, choosing to join Barcelona's first team pre-season camp directly, refusing to take a rest period after his participation with the Egyptian national team in the 2026 World Cup.

The player is set to travel to Barcelona to join the team's camp, which starts on July 13, after the club gave him the freedom to choose between a short vacation or joining from the first day of preparations. He opted to continue working without delay.

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Mona Abdelkarim, the player's aunt, confirmed on her Facebook account on Saturday that Hamza will leave for Spain to join the first team camp, noting that he preferred to start the preparation period immediately after the end of his stint with the Egyptian national team. The player's decision came days after the return of the Egyptian national team delegation from the United States, following their historic participation in the 2026 World Cup, which saw the 'Pharaohs' reach the round of 16 before exiting against Argentina 3-2. The team also received an official reception and recognition from President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

Abdelkarim's joining the first team camp comes at a time when his World Cup participation has reshaped his plans within Barcelona. The Spanish newspaper 'Sport' reported that the Catalan club is considering keeping the player in the first team, after the initial plan was to prepare him through Barcelona Atlètic.

Barcelona recently activated the clause to permanently buy the Egyptian striker's contract from Al Ahly, following a loan period that began last January, during which he caught the eye with the youth team by scoring six goals in two months.

Club management believes that the 18-year-old possesses the attributes of a true striker, with his physical strength, commitment to defensive duties, and ability to develop, which led to a reassessment of his future within the team.

Abdelkarim participated in four matches for Egypt during the World Cup, coming on as a substitute against Belgium, New Zealand, and Iran in the group stage, and then against Australia in the round of 32, while remaining on the bench for the round of 16 match against Argentina.

According to the Spanish newspaper, Barcelona is considering the player as an option to strengthen the attack in the upcoming period, with the possibility of loaning him to a first or second division club still on the table if management deems it best for his development and gaining more experience.