Real Sociedad Omits Sadiq Umar From Squad Amid Exit Talks

Real Sociedad have left Nigerian forward, Sadiq Umar, out of their pre-season tour squad to Japan as the player’s future remains uncertain.

Sadiq Umar, 28, who joined Sociedad in 2022 from Almería in a €20 million deal, has struggled to live up to expectations, with a series of injuries and inconsistent form hindering his impact at the Basque club.

Sadiq was notably absent from the squad that faced French side Pau FC in a friendly a few days ago, and now his exclusion from the Asian tour appears to confirm speculation that new manager Sergio Francisco is preparing for life without him.

“This decision indicates that the 28-year-old forward is not part of coach Sergio Francisco’s plans, which brings his departure from the txuri-urdin team even closer,” Spanish outlet Levante-EMV reported.

Sources within the club suggest Sociedad are actively working on finding a new destination for the Super Eagles striker, who still has two years left on his current deal.

The club is believed to be open to permanent offers, and have reportedly placed a €9 million price tag on the Nigerian international.

Sadiq spent the latter half of last season on loan at Valencia, where he showed flashes of his old form, netting six goals in 19 appearances. That stint has reignited interest from clubs in La Liga and abroad, with Valencia reportedly monitoring the situation closely.

“His incorporation back to the team is unfeasible at this time in the market,” Levante-EMV added. “The club remains interested and is awaiting any movement that could facilitate its arrival in the future.”

However, a permanent return to Mestalla is not straightforward. Valencia are expected to wait until the closing weeks of the transfer window before making any move, as they look to secure a more financially favourable deal.

Sadiq’s journey at Sociedad has been turbulent. After making a bright start following his record-breaking switch from Almería, he suffered a major ACL injury that sidelined him for months. Since then, he has struggled to regain his rhythm and secure a regular starting spot.