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Nigerian striker Umar Sadiq is hoping to revive his career at Valencia – his 12th club in 11 years – ahead of his league debut for the club in their clash against Sevilla on Saturday (today), PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Sadiq made his first appearance for Los Che in their 2-0 Copa del Rey victory over Eldense on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old, who joined Los Che on loan from Real Sociedad last weekend, impressed manager Carlos Corberán during his 32-minute cameo, registering two shots on target and boasting a 100 per cent success rate in tackles and aerial duels.
“From day one he (Sadiq) has come with the necessary attitude and mentality to play for Valencia CF,” Corberán told reporters after the game.
“Whoever comes must come with that commitment and that intention to help. Today was a first step where he has shown that attitude necessary for this moment.”
The striker, who has experienced eight loan spells across his career, expressed his determination to make an impact at the Mestalla as they prepare to face Sevilla in La Liga today.
“I needed a game like this, I want to give it continuity, because unfortunately I hadn’t scored for a year and I want to change that, because I want to be an important player at Valencia,” Sadiq said.
Valencia paid €1m loan fee for the striker with an option to make the deal permanent for less than €10m in the summer, as they look to improve their goalscoring record of just 17 goals in 18 league games this season.
Sadiq’s move follows a frustrating spell at Real Sociedad, where he made just six appearances this season, starting only two games and playing a total of 205 minutes from a possible 1,260.
The former Roma Academy graduate had earlier expressed his frustration at the lack of playing time at the Basque club.
His nomadic career has seen him represent clubs across Italy, the Netherlands, Scotland, Serbia, and Spain, including Lavagnese, La Spezia, Roma, Bologna, Torino, NAC Breda, Rangers, Perugia, Partizan Belgrade, Almería, Real Sociedad and now Valencia.
Sadiq will hope to help 19th-placed Valencia climb out of the relegation zone when they visit 14th-placed Sevilla, who could be without Nigerian duo Chidera Ejuke and Kelechi Iheanacho due to injury concerns.
Los Che have not won a single La Liga game on their travels this season, collecting just 12 points from 18 matches, leaving them four points behind 17th-placed Getafe.
