By Onyekachi Chimezie
Nigeria International and Real Sociedad Striker Umar Sadiq successfully went through surgery on Thursday morning, reports OwoSports.com.ng.
The 25-year-old goal poacher was replaced by Mohammed-Ali Cho in the 38th minute after being forced off due to injury as Real Sociedad lost 2-1 away to Getafe in round 5 of La Liga last Sunday. The club later confirmed that Sadiq Umar suffered a right knee sprain.
Real Sociedad, through a statement released on Twitter, announced that the club’s number 25 has undergone successful surgery.
“Sadiq underwent surgery this morning. The operation was successfully carried out with no issues. He will remain in the hospital until Friday or Saturday, depending on his evolution.”
Due to a lengthy post-surgery recuperation period, his terrible injury will probably keep him out of play for the remainder of the season (8 to 12 months).
On the last day of the transfer window, Sadiq Umar transferred from UD Almeria, another La Liga team in Spain to Real Sociedad for a club-record 20 million euros plus six million in possible add-ons.
On September 3, less than 48 hours after moving from Almeria, where he had scored two goals in three games to start the season, the player who had three caps for his current club before the ACL injury was bought to replace Alexander Isak following his record transfer to Newcastle United. He scored Sociedad’s equalizer in the 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid after coming off the bench on his debut in the second half.
Sadiq made his first start for Sociedad, who defeated Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford in their Group E opener in the UEFA Europa League last Thursday.
Beforeo making the jump to the Super Eagles at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon in January, Sadiq played for Nigeria’s under-23 national team at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, helping the nation win bronze.
Sodiq will also miss out on the Super Eagles squad for the international friendly against Algeria on September 27 and the prestige friendly against Portugal at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon on Thursday, November 17.
