Former Nigeria U-23 star and Almeria of Spain striker, Sadiq Umar is delighted to have represented Nigeria at the Rio Olympics in Brazil where he won bronze, however stating that the ambitions now is to gain promotion to play in the Laliga with his club.
The former Roma of Italy young star in an Exclusive interview stated that it was a dream come true to represent Nigeria at the Olympics, however keeping sight on a future National Team call up, but maintain he is solely focused on helping UD Almeria gain promotion to elite division of Spanish league (Laliga).
“I have to thank God with the opportunity I have always been given in life, you know as a footballer we are always trying to see where we arrive till the end of our career we always trying to get to the highest level.
“For me last season playing in the Europa league with Partizan then this season coming back to the second league in Spain with UD Almeria, I would say it is a good achievements for me because they are a teams with big budget, big plans, planning to move into the first division, in the first division it will be a big boost for everyone in the club and club has no limits, but we will see in the future, it one of the best league in the world after World cup, champions league, Europa league, everyone knows, it hard I can say it like the Premiership because it always about one on one counter attacks it a good experience for me.
“The ambitions first is to go to the first division, the budget is there everyone at the club wants to go to the first division and even right now everyone knows that the team is supposed to be in Laliga, it a big budget but we have to see through the first step which is to gain promotion and see what happens.
He spoke about how elated he was putting on the green and white jersey at the Olympics in 2016, as he also believed he’s keeping faith for a possible national team call up in the future.
“Representing my country was a dream come true, because growing up the first thing I knew was watching the Super Eagles and woke up to see myself in the green and white jersey, though before then I already made my debut with Roma I was on the bench in the Champions league but then that is a different feeling, Nigeria is blessed with a lot of talent you go across Europe, you will see majority of Nigerians there some even playing for the English national team, I will wait for my time when it comes I will grab it, I have no doubts about it one day it will happen we will see when it is.
He also spoke on how he began his professional football career in European
“I went there from an Academy to play a tournament in Croatia and i became the highest goal scorer, I got an offer to go to Spezia, I became the youth highest goal scorer so I moved to Roma youth team and then it began from there.
