Umar Sadiq diagnosed with season-ending cruciate ligament injury

Super Eagles striker, Umar Sadiq, may miss the rest of the season after copping a cruciate ligament injury in Real Sociedad’s La Liga game against Getafe at the weekend.

Real Sociedad lost the game 1-2. According to reports, Sadiq, who limped out of the game in the 38th minute, faces a long spell on the sidelines and may not play again this season.

Sunday’s game against Getafe was Sadiq’s third match for Sociedad, a club he joined from Almeria in the summer transfer window for €20 million.

Real Sociedad brought him in as replacement for Alexander Isak, who left for Newcastle United. Following test results that confirmed Sadiq tore his right ACL, Real Sociedad said the Nigerian would go under the knife soon.

Although the club did not state how long Sadiq would be out of action, experts say he could miss the rest of the season.
25-year-old Sadiq was Sociedad’s top summer signing. He made an immediate impact by scoring on his debut in a 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid on September 3.

He started for Sociedad in their historic first win over Manchester United at Old Trafford in their Europa League group game on September 8.

The injury means Sadiq will miss Nigeria’s international friendlies against Algeria on September 27 and Portugal in November. The injury may also cost him Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Guinea Bissau, which has been postponed to hold in March 2023.