From Star Striker to Outcast: Real Sociedad Snubs Sadiq Umar Amid Transfer Rumours

Sadiq Umar has been left out of Real Sociedad’s pre‑season tour squad to Japan, deepening uncertainty over his future at the club.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The 28‑year‑old Nigerian forward, who joined Sociedad from Almería in 2022 in a €20 million deal, has yet to meet expectations due to recurring injuries and patchy form.

His omission follows his absence from the friendly match against French side Pau FC a few days ago, and now his exclusion from the Asian trip fuels speculation that new manager Sergio Francisco is planning without him.

“This decision shows the 28‑year‑old striker is no longer part of Sergio Francisco’s plans, bringing his exit from the txuri‑urdin side even closer,” Spanish outlet Levante‑EMV reported.

Club sources say Sociedad are already exploring options to offload the Super Eagles star, who still has two years left on his contract. Reports indicate the Basque outfit is open to permanent offers and has set an asking price of around €9 million.

Sadiq spent the latter half of last season on loan at Valencia, where he offered glimpses of his best form, scoring six goals in 19 matches. That spell has reignited interest both within La Liga and overseas, with Valencia said to be monitoring his situation closely.

“His reintegration into the team is unfeasible at this stage of the market,” Levante‑EMV added. “Valencia remains interested and is waiting for an opportunity that could make his return possible.”

A permanent move back to Mestalla, however, is far from straightforward. Valencia are expected to bide their time until the closing stages of the transfer window to negotiate a more favourable deal.

Sadiq’s time at Sociedad has been turbulent. After a bright start following his record‑breaking transfer from Almería, he suffered a serious ACL injury that kept him out for months. Since then, he has struggled to regain his rhythm and lock down a regular starting role.