Sadiq Umar faces uncertain future after Real Sociedad’s La Liga registration snub

By Oluwadamilola Olaleye

Nigeria striker Sadiq Umar’s future at Real Sociedad has been thrown into further doubt after the club omitted him from their registered squad for the new La Liga season.

The 27-year-old, who was already left out of the club’s pre-season tour, has been linked with a move away this summer, with Valencia showing the strongest interest in taking him back on loan.

However, no club has yet met Sociedad’s valuation, complicating efforts to secure his departure.

Head coach Sergio Francisco addressed the situation in an interview with ElDesmarque, insisting that talks are ongoing but denying suggestions that Umar is being forced out.

“Sadiq is in open talks, there are all kinds of conversations, but that doesn’t mean he’s not in the plans. I wouldn’t say for sure whether he’s leaving or staying,” Francisco said.

“There are five players who don’t have a number because they have pending negotiations; at the end of the transfer window, we’ll see how we distribute them.”

Despite the manager’s remarks, Umar is no longer seen as a central figure in Sociedad’s plans, with the club open to moving him on before the transfer window closes.

For his part, the Nigerian forward is believed to favour a return to Valencia, where he previously enjoyed success, with Mestalla viewed as his preferred destination.

Valencia, who are currently assessing multiple attacking options, are understood to regard Umar as a strong candidate due to his profile and suitability for their system.

Whether a deal can be struck before the deadline remains uncertain, but Sociedad’s decision to exclude him from their La Liga squad registration underlines the growing likelihood of an exit.

Samuel Ahmadu

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.

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