I flopped at Rangers and was dropped to the B team – now ‘a stroke of genius’ has La Liga raving about me
After a time to forget in Glasgow, Umar Sadiq has now left fans in disbelief after a stunning leveller for Valencia
Umar Sadiq of Valencia CF celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the LaLiga match between CA Osasuna and Valencia CF at Estadio El Sadar on March 02, 2025 in Pamplona, Spain
Umar Sadiq stunned La Liga fans with an outrageous leveller for Valencia(Image: Getty Images)
When Umar Sadiq joined Rangers on loan from Roma in 2018 big things were expected.
But instead the towering Nigerian, nicknamed the flute for his slender build, flopped massively – playing just four times for the first team and having his loan deal terminated early. Despite being on loan from one of the biggest sides in Serie A, Sadiq even found himself relegated to Rangers’ B team for a Challenge Cup defeat to Falkirk – where he was booked before being hooked for Glenn Middleton at half-time with his team already 2-0 down against the then Championship strugglers.
However since leaving Ibrox, Sadiq has enjoyed a major revival in his fortunes. Prolific spells in Serbia with Partizan Belgrade and in the Spanish second tier with Almeria led to a big move to Real Sociedad – and he’s now on loan at the Basque side’s La Liga rivals Valencia.
And he left fans in disbelief by netting a stunning late leveller against Osasuna, latching onto a low cross from former Brentford man Sergi Canos with his back to goal, before producing a stunning flick that sent the ball spinning into the far corner. With the moment of magic even earning praise from his opponent’s manager.
Speaking to Marca after the game, Vicente Moreno said: “The goal is a stroke of genius from Sadiq, there’s little you can do.” Delighted Valencia boss Carlos Corberan meanwhile paid tribute to Sadiq for the impact he made on just his fourth start for the club, saying: “Sadiq arrived very committed and eager to work. We are going to give him the confidence he needs to continue helping the team.”
Sadiq’s Rangers time is best remembered for a horror showing in their Betfred Cup semi-final defeat to Aberdeen in October 2018, where he was caught offside five times and given a booking for diving – after rounding Dons keeper Joe Lewis and hitting the deck rather than going for goal.
Rangers’ Umar Sadiq goes down in the box, but is booked for diving
A horror dive against Aberdeen summed up Sadiq’s time at Rangers(Image: SNS Group)
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It was the final appearance he’d make for the Light Blues, before being sent back to Roma in January as he found himself well behind Alfredo Morelos and Kyle Lafferty in the pecking order. Rangers went on to hand Sadiq’s number nine shirt to another loan signing in January, veteran Jermain Defoe, who would go on to become part of the Gers side that won the 2021 Premiership title.
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