Egypt teenager Abdelkarim pushing for Barca place after prolific pre-season

CAIRO, Aug 22 : Egypt striker Hamza Abdelkarim could barely get a game for Al Ahly's first team before joining Barcelona but the 18-year-old is now the Catalans' leading pre-season scorer and pushing for a place in Hansi Flick’s side ahead of their LaLiga campaign.Abdelkarim scored four goals in five warm-up appearances, starting four matches and netting in three, after cutting short his post-World Cup holiday to join Barca’s preparations.He initially arrived from Al Ahly during the winter transfer window and scored six goals in 11 appearances for Barcelona’s under-19 side. The Spanish club exercised their purchase option in June, signing him permanently until 2029.With Barca yet to recruit an out-and-out striker following the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, Abdelkarim