Spanish newspaper Sport has highlighted several young players selected by Barcelona sporting director Deco during the club's recent recruitment campaign, describing a number of his choices as particularly notable.
The report stated that Deco has been implementing a new strategy for Barcelona's approach to the international talent market, with the club looking to identify promising players before major European clubs move for them.
Barcelona Changes Its Approach to Talent Recruitment
According to Sport, Barcelona had fallen behind some of Europe's biggest clubs in the race to recruit the continent's most promising young players, but the club's approach has changed significantly over the past two or three years.
The report linked this change to Barcelona's financial situation, which limited the club's ability to compete in expensive transfer battles or enter bidding wars with other major teams.
At the same time, greater emphasis was placed on developing local talent, contributing to the emergence of players such as Pau Cubarsí, Lamine Yamal, Bernal, Héctor Fort and Xavi Espart.
The report presented the development of academy players and the recruitment of overseas prospects as complementary approaches that remain consistent with Barcelona's traditional identity.
Deco Expands Barcelona's Talent Scouting Strategy
Sport reported that Deco has worked alongside his first assistant and new head of scouting, João Amaral, to refocus Barcelona's recruitment efforts.
The strategy is based on identifying promising players at an early stage, before they attract the attention of Europe's biggest clubs.
The scouting approach extends across Europe, Africa, South America and the United States.
According to the report, 18 promising players from outside Spain have joined Barcelona in recent times, although their levels of success have varied.
The objective is to develop these players for the first team while also increasing their market value and potentially generating future revenue for the club.
Sport Highlights Hamza Abdelkarim's Barcelona Deal
Sport included Hamza Abdelkarim, the Egypt international and Al Ahly forward, among the notable signings made as part of Deco's strategy.
The newspaper described the deal as one of Barcelona's best signings in terms of value for money, noting that the Egyptian striker had made a strong impression at Al Ahly, prompting Barcelona to move quickly to secure his services.
According to the report, the deal initially took the form of a loan before becoming a permanent transfer, followed by a contract renewal that included clauses related to the first team.
Hamza Abdelkarim Integrates Into the First-Team Structure
Sport reported that Hamza Abdelkarim has successfully integrated into the first-team structure, describing the deal as valuable for Barcelona regardless of what happens with the player in the future.
His inclusion among the club's notable signings reflects, according to the report, the strategy of identifying young talent early and developing players gradually toward the highest level of competition.
Barcelona's Strategy in the Young Talent Market
The strategy described in the report focuses on acting early in the young-player market rather than waiting until prospects become major targets for Europe's leading clubs.
Barcelona is combining the development of local academy talent with the recruitment of promising players from international markets.
The aim is to create a wider pool of players capable of competing for places in the first team while also giving the club the potential to generate economic value from their development.
What did Sport say about Hamza Abdelkarim's Barcelona deal?
Sport described the deal as one of Barcelona's best signings in terms of value for money.
Who selected Hamza Abdelkarim for Barcelona?
His signing was part of the recruitment strategy led by Deco, Barcelona's sporting director.
What is Deco's recruitment strategy?
The strategy focuses on identifying young talent early, before major clubs move for the players, with scouting efforts covering Europe, Africa, South America and the United States.
How many overseas prospects have recently joined Barcelona according to the report?
The report stated that 18 promising players from outside Spain have joined Barcelona in recent times.
Did Hamza Abdelkarim's renewed contract include first-team clauses?
Yes. The report stated that his contract renewal included clauses related to the first team.
