Hamza Abdel Karim, a young player from Al Ahly in Egypt, is currently facing complex administrative procedures that are hindering his official start with Barcelona's reserve team. Despite demonstrating strong skills during training, his debut has been postponed due to issues related to his eligibility as a non-European player. According to Spanish newspaper 'Sport', the delay is not due to his performance but rather the lengthy legal processes required for obtaining the necessary work permits and registrations.

As Hamza is not a part of the Cotonou Agreement, which benefits players from certain African countries, he must navigate a more prolonged legal pathway to secure the required authorizations. This includes obtaining a work permit and completing the registration process as a non-European player within the limits set by the club and the Spanish Football Federation. The anticipated timeline for completing these administrative tasks could take anywhere from six weeks to two months under the best circumstances.

Barcelona management is currently working on registering Hamza with the Juvenil A team as a means to mitigate the delay. This decision reflects the club's intention to integrate him into their system while awaiting the resolution of his administrative circumstances. If successful, this could provide him with an opportunity to gain valuable experience and training at the youth level as he waits for clearance to join the reserve team.