Sergio Francisco reaffirms commitment to Sadiq Umar’s reintegration at Real Sociedad

By Oluwadamilola Olaleye

Real Sociedad manager Sergio Francisco has reiterated his commitment to fully reintegrating Nigerian striker Sadiq Umar into the squad, despite ongoing tensions and controversy surrounding the player’s future.

Francisco’s stance comes after Umar played a decisive role in Sociedad’s 1–1 draw away to Elche at the Martínez Valero Stadium on Sunday.

The Basque side fought back from behind after Álvaro Rodríguez had given the hosts the lead, with Mikel Oyarzabal converting a late 89th-minute penalty to secure a point.

With his team struggling to find attacking rhythm, Francisco introduced Sadiq in the 64th minute for Gonçalo Guedes. The substitution proved pivotal, as Umar’s direct run into the box drew the foul that led to the crucial penalty equalizer.

The forward’s contribution not only rescued a valuable point but also strengthened Francisco’s belief that Sadiq remains an important asset for the club.

“He’s a player we all know,” Francisco said after the match. “When the opposition leaves space behind the defensive line, he’s very difficult to mark because of his height and speed.

“We brought him on for that reason — to create space, to make runs, and to cause the same uncertainty that Álvaro was giving us on the other side. He did well.”

Sadiq’s situation, however, remains complex. His relationship with sections of the Real Sociedad fanbase has been strained since a turbulent summer, during which his potential transfer away from San Sebastián collapsed.

“The resulting tension has made his reintegration into the squad challenging, particularly during home fixtures at the Reale Arena.

According to reports from Spain, Francisco is managing the situation carefully, opting to feature the Nigerian more often in away matches where the atmosphere is less hostile.

A January exit has not been ruled out, but for now, the manager appears determined to restore Sadiq’s confidence and reestablish his role within the team.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey 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.

See Full Bio