Umar Sadiq Talks About His Tough Time at Real Sociedad

Nigeria striker Umar Sadiq has spoken honestly about the tough period he faced at Real Sociedad, saying injury and lack of playing time made things difficult for him.

The Super Eagles forward joined Sociedad in the summer of 2022 from Almeria in a €20 million deal. He had been in top form at Almeria, scoring 43 goals and providing 13 assists in 84 matches, helping them earn promotion to La Liga.

Sadiq made a strong start at his new club, scoring on his debut against Atletico Madrid and also impressing in a Europa League win over Manchester United at Old Trafford.

However, his bright start was quickly cut short. Just a few days after joining, he suffered a serious knee injury (ACL) during a league game against Getafe, which kept him out for the rest of the 2022/23 season.

When he returned, things didn’t go smoothly. He found it hard to get back into the team and only managed three goals in 36 matches across all competitions last season.

With goals hard to come by and Sociedad expecting more from him, the club decided to send him on loan to Valencia in January this year. He had failed to score in seven league appearances that season before the move.

Since joining Valencia, the 27-year-old has found his rhythm again, scoring four goals in 11 league matches and playing a big part in helping the team avoid relegation.

Speaking to TVC News, Sadiq said:

“When I moved to Real Sociedad, I had high hopes. But after just five days, I tore my ACL and everything changed.

I missed the whole season. When I came back, I couldn’t get the regular game time I needed. I had fallen behind, and the coach made his decisions, which I respected.

Sometimes in football, you find yourself in a situation you can’t control. That was my case at Real Sociedad.

Every footballer needs regular games to stay sharp. I didn’t get that at Sociedad. But here at Valencia, I’m playing week in and week out. I’m getting my confidence back. That’s what I needed – consistency.”

Although Sadiq hasn’t scored since his brace against Real Valladolid on 8 March, he remains a key part of manager Rubén Baraja’s team. He recently played in matches against Girona, Mallorca, Real Madrid, and Sevilla, helping Valencia earn three wins and a draw – including a big 2-1 win at the Bernabéu.

Sadiq will hope to find the net again when Valencia visit Rayo Vallecano on 19 April.