Valencia sporting director, Miguel Ángel Corona has praised Umar Sadiq’s work rate and growing influence, describing the Nigerian striker as a vital part of the team’s recent resurgence.
The 28 year-old forward joined Valencia during the January transfer window and has since made a strong impression, scoring six goals in 15 appearances.
Speaking to Movistar+, Corona expressed satisfaction with the striker’s impact but emphasized that the club remains focused on its immediate goals before making long-term decisions.
Umar Sadiq’s physical presence, pressing, and intelligent movement have given Los Che a new edge in attack, and he’s become a fan favorite.
“We’re very happy (with Sadiq). His numbers also speak for themselves,” Corona said. “He’s contributed a lot, and not just in goals, which are numbers, but also in all the work he contributes to the team, as of course all his teammates do.”
Corona noted that while Sadiq has made a strong case to be considered for a permanent transfer, the club is currently prioritizing its short-term objectives.
“First, we want to confirm our objective,” he clarified. “We cannot focus too much on things beyond our control right now. Our priority is to ensure we reach our goal, which is to secure enough points to reach safety.
“Anything other than focusing on our next matches and achieving that objective would be misplaced.”
Valencia reportedly included an option-to-buy clause in Sadiq’s loan deal, but it remains unclear if the club will activate it.
Sadiq’s future will likely depend on Valencia’s end-of-season position and financial situation.
Following a 1-1 draw with Espanyol, the club sits four points outside eighth place, with European qualification still a mathematical possibility but far from guaranteed.
