Nigeria forward Umar Sadiq is ‘important’ and a player who’s getting better every day, Real Sociedad boss Imanol Barrenetxea said ahead of the Spanish side’s Champions League meeting against Benfica on Wednesday.
Sadiq, 26, joined Sociedad from Almeria for 20 million euros in September last year but suffered an injury two months later that ruled him out for almost a year. Sadiq returned to competitive action in August but has struggled for playing time and is yet to hit the strides that saw him help Almeria secure promotion to La Liga after the 2021/22 season.
He’s made 10 league appearances for this club this season but Barrenetxea, in answering a question from Oma Akatugba of Omasports, said the Nigerian is getting better again by the day.
“It is the most complicated thing for a player,” the Spaniard said of Sadiq’s injury. “After such a major injury and so much time out of competition and training, getting into the rhythm and also, in this case Sadiq, it is true that when we signed him he was in a great moment and doing a great season in the second division.
I inquired of Real Sociedad’s manager, Imanol Alguacil, about his approach to assisting a player like Sadiq Umar in reclaiming his peak form after a prolonged injury absence. Additionally, I sought his perspective on what steps Umar himself can take to rebuild his confidence. To… pic.twitter.com/aXV5pzJ4fn
— Oma Akatugba (@omaakatugba) November 8, 2023
“Now he is in a Real Sociedad that is fighting in the Champions League and wants to continue fighting to be in the Champions League next year. He is important.
“However, I think that Umar’s work is being good today, every day and it is what will bring him closer to being able to compete at a higher level than what he demonstrated in Almería and will be able to help us.”
Before joining Sociedad last year, Umar helped Almeria secure qualify to the Spanish top-division, scoring an impressive 18 goals and providing nine assists in 36 games in the 2021/22 season.
Sociedad are in their first Champions League this season – with their only previous appearance coming in the 2003/04 season.
They top Group D with 7 points after 3 games – with Inter Milan in second. Salburg are third on three points with Benfica still without any.