Egypt's Hamza Abdelkarim responded to his absence from Barcelona's clash with Elche with a calm message full of confidence and patience. The chance may not have come against Elche, he stressed, but what matters most is being fully prepared for the moment his opportunity arrives.
The young Barcelona forward took to social media after the match: "No minutes today. The focus remains. I will stay ready for the moment to play when it comes." The words reflected a positive attitude towards the decision to leave him out, and a commitment to staying prepared rather than dwelling on his absence.
Hamza's message followed a comprehensive Barcelona win, 5-0 over Elche. Germany's Hansi Flick deployed Raphinha as an out-and-out striker and handed the attacking minutes to other names, with competition for places up front fierce.
He never got onto the pitch, yet Hamza seemed keen to send an entirely different message. His words carried no objection, no complaint. Instead they focused on readiness and waiting for the opportunity, exactly the mentality a young player needs at the start of his time with the first team.