By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay has indicated that Nigerian forward Umar Sadiq could remain at the club for the upcoming season, despite speculation surrounding his future and exclusion from the club’s pre-season tour.
In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Aperribay emphasized that while Sadiq’s continuity is under consideration, the final decision will depend on head coach Imanol Alguacil and the outcome of the club’s transfer activity in the coming weeks.
“The information I have about Sadiq is that he’s trained very well, like the entire group that has stayed in Zubieta,” Aperribay said. “We’ve spoken with Erik every day about how the sessions are going, and Sadiq is doing very well.”
The club president suggested that incoming transfers will influence decisions not just about Sadiq, but also about other players whose futures remain uncertain.
“I wouldn’t rule out Sadiq being here next season. If the players we’re interested in can be signed, they will be. If not, we have a strong squad capable of achieving our goals,” he added.
Aperribay further noted that decisions will be made in the coming weeks as the coaching staff assesses the squad and finalizes plans for the season.
Sadiq, who spent part of last season on loan at Valencia, is reportedly attracting interest from Segunda División side Elche. However, with the transfer window still open, his future remains unresolved.
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.
