FC Barcelona has opened formal negotiations to extend the contract of 18-year-old forward Hamza Abdelkarim, aiming to increase his release clause from €15 million to €150 million. The move follows the Egyptian prospect’s standout performance during the team’s summer training camp, where he finished as the club’s top scorer with four goals.
Contract Extension and Clause Escalation
The club’s management met with Abdelkarim’s agent at the Ciutat Esportiva earlier this week to finalize terms, as reported by the Spanish sports outlet Sport. Barcelona officials are moving quickly to secure the player’s future, viewing his current €15 million release clause as dangerously low given his rapid development since arriving from Al Ahly for a reported €1.5 million transfer fee. By increasing the buyout figure to €150 million, the club intends to insulate the young talent from poaching attempts by rival European sides.
Preventing a Repeat of the Dro Fernández Exit
The urgency behind the new contract stems from the club’s recent experience with Dro Fernández, who departed for Paris Saint-Germain after the French club triggered his €8 million release clause. Barcelona executives are eager to avoid a similar scenario, characterizing the current structure of Abdelkarim’s deal as overly accessible to external bidders. The proposed contract adjustment is widely viewed as an "anti-Paris" measure, designed specifically to discourage clubs like PSG—which previously utilized a release clause to sign Fernández—from pursuing Abdelkarim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Barcelona prioritizing this contract extension now?
The club wants to protect its investment after Abdelkarim’s four-goal performance in the summer preparation period signaled his potential as a first-team asset. Adjusting the clause is a defensive measure to prevent a repeat of the Dro Fernández transfer.
How much did Barcelona originally pay for Hamza Abdelkarim?
The club acquired the Egyptian forward from Al Ahly for a fee of €1.5 million. Current negotiations aim to increase his release clause by a factor of ten, moving it from €15 million to €150 million.
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