Valencia coach Carlos Corberán was full of praise for Super Eagles striker Umar Sadiq following his debut in Los Ches’ 2-0 Copa del Rey win over Eldense at the Estadio Municipal Nuevo Pepico Amat on Tuesday night.

Sadiq, who recently joined Valencia on loan from Real Sociedad, made his first appearance for the club after being registered by LaLiga just days earlier.

Introduced as a substitute in the 58th minute, the Nigerian forward left a strong impression despite not finding the back of the net.

The 26-year-old showcased his skillset during his 32-minute cameo, registering two shots on target, completing 21 touches, and boasting a 100% success rate in tackles and aerial duels.

His effort and commitment did not go unnoticed by Corberán, who lauded Sadiq’s mentality.

“From day one he (Sadiq) has come with the necessary attitude and mentality to play for Valencia CF,” Corberán told reporters after the game.

”Whoever comes must come with that commitment and that intention to help. Today was a first step where he has shown that attitude necessary for this moment.”

Sadiq’s debut featured a few key moments in attack. His first notable opportunity came in the 91st minute with a powerful strike from outside the box, forcing a save from Eldense goalkeeper Dani Martín.

Moments later, Sadiq tested Martín again with a right-footed effort from a similar position.

The forward also experienced setbacks, including an offside call against him and a yellow card for a late foul. Despite this, his energetic display highlighted his potential to become an asset for Valencia as they progress through the season.

Valencia holds the option to make Sadiq’s loan move permanent at the end of the campaign.

While his debut performance wasn’t marked by a goal, it underscored his ability to influence attacking situations and his readiness to contribute as the team moves forward.