By Dayo Awoniyi
Spanish La Liga newcomers Real Oviedo have initiated talks with FC Porto over a potential loan deal for Nigerian international Zaidu Sanusi, amid uncertainty surrounding the defender’s future in Portugal.
Sanusi, 27, has one year remaining on his current contract and is among the players likely to leave Porto this summer, despite a strong campaign last season.
The Spanish club’s new president, André Villas-Boas, is keen to avoid losing the left-back on a free transfer next year.
Real Oviedo are exploring a season-long loan arrangement for the 2025/26 campaign, which would include a clause to sign Sanusi permanently as a free agent upon the expiration of his contract with Porto.
If the deal is finalized, Sanusi would bring La Liga newcomers crucial top-flight experience and defensive depth as they prepare for life in Spain’s top division.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
