Portuguese legend Eusebio sends advice to struggling Barcelona youngster – “Important for his growth”

Portuguese football legend Eusebio has offered guidance to young Barcelona striker Hamza Abdelkarim, encouraging him to view his time in the reserve team as a positive step for his development. Hamza, an 18-year-old Egyptian forward, recently returned to the reserves following his absence from Barcelona's first-team squad due to Raphinha's recovery from injury.

In an interview with Erem News, Eusebio highlighted the importance of Hamza's experience playing with Barcelona's senior squad, noting that regular training alongside experienced players is crucial for his long-term growth. He emphasized that while training alone is vital, competitive minutes are equally important for a young footballer.

Eusebio also urged Hamza to stay calm and trust the decisions made by Barcelona's coach, Flick. The former Barcelona Atletic coach stressed that simply sitting on the bench every weekend would offer Hamza limited opportunities to develop his skills. Hamza's goal in the recent match against Utebo demonstrates that regular competitive involvement can be a significant benefit to his overall development.

Eusebio acknowledged that Barcelona faces a common challenge in balancing first-team exposure with the need for regular football for its young talents. Despite his impressive form, Hamza's 18 years of age mark the beginning of his career, and being in the first-team conversation is already a significant achievement. Barcelona's priority should be to ensure that he continues to develop while staying connected to the first-team environment, allowing his ambition to succeed at the club to materialize appropriately.