Sadiq and Valencia, back to where the bond began | OneFootball

Umar Sadiq’s brief Valencia stint was explosive, and the club now look to him again to spark their survival push.

According to Superdeporte, the bond began with his first goal in Valencia colours while the team sat in the drop zone. Carlos Corberán was attempting to salvage a side coming off their worst first half of the three-points era.

That breakthrough arrived at La Cerámica. Villarreal led and Valencia’s thin revival wobbled, then Sadiq’s header clawed back more than a point and belief. He soon moved from wildcard to starter with seven consecutive starts.

A brace against Osasuna yielded only a draw, yet a deft backheel equaliser and wild celebration crystallised the Sadiq effect. He then struck a winner against Real Valladolid and a leveller at Vallecas, both in unorthodox fashion.

After his loan ended, Corberán made him the summer’s top target. A deadline-day push to soften Real Sociedad’s terms failed, leaving Sadiq in Donosti until winter as he refused any destination but Mestalla. In January Valencia paid what La Real wanted.

Readaptation was erratic. In the Copa against Athletic he scored, put through his own net and missed chances, but his introduction flipped the Levante derby. A backheel helped the opener, then he outmuscled a defender to net the second.

Now he returns to La Cerámica with the chance to be the hero again as Valencia try to pull clear, possibly winning a first league start at the ground where this story began.

Source: Superdeporte