Garba Lawal Urges Sadiq Umar to Seek Regular Playing Time Amid Uncertain Sociedad Future

Former Super Eagles midfielder Garba Lawal has advised Real Sociedad striker Sadiq Umar to prioritise regular game time as he weighs his options ahead of the new season.

Lawal, a member of Nigeria’s historic 1996 Olympic gold medal-winning team, believes the 28-year-old forward would benefit from a move to a club where he is guaranteed consistent minutes, and has tipped Spanish side Elche CF as a viable destination.

“Sadiq is a quality striker with plenty of goals still in him,” Lawal told Africafoot. “But what he needs right now is regular football, which I’m not sure he can get at Real Sociedad.”

The former Nigerian international attributed Sadiq’s struggles at Sociedad not to his ability, but to tactical incompatibility with the team’s setup.

“It’s not about his talent,” Lawal said. “The issue is the system. Sociedad don’t really play with a traditional centre forward, and that’s affected him.”

Sadiq, who joined Real Sociedad in 2022, has found opportunities limited, and reports suggest the Spanish side is now looking to sell him permanently, having ruled out another loan move. Interest has come from Elche as well as Turkish Super Lig outfit Samsunspor, who have reportedly opened formal discussions with Sociedad. According to reports, Samsunspor president Yüksel Yıldırım has already given the green light to pursue the striker.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Lawal revealed he has maintained close communication with Sadiq and offered him support during a difficult spell.

“I kept telling him to stay positive and keep working hard even when he wasn’t playing. That’s football, it has highs and lows,” Lawal said.

However, the former Lobi Stars man is firm in his belief that playing time should be the striker’s top priority.

“Sadiq is hungry to play. If Elche or any other club can give him that opportunity, he should take it. At this point in his career, consistent football is what he needs most,” Lawal added.

Sadiq, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Valencia, is still under contract with Real Sociedad until 2028.