'I was never informed of any clause' - Valencia coach explains why Sadiq was an unused sub v Getafe

Valencia head coach Carlos Corberán has clarified his decision to leave Nigerian striker Umar Sadiq on the bench in their emphatic 3-0 victory over Getafe on Saturday at the Mestalla Stadium.

 Sadiq, who joined Los Che on loan from Real Sociedad in January, has made a strong impression with five goals in thirteen La Liga appearances, sparking speculation about a potential permanent move in the summer.

However, the in-form forward didn't feature in the victory over Getafe, prompting questions about his lack of game time.

Speaking after the game, Corberán dismissed rumuors suggesting that Sadiq's absence was related to any contractual clause tied to match appearances.

"As for Sadiq, I was never informed of any clause for games played, and I don't think I know if it even exists, but the decisions we make are those we believe help the team be competitive," Corberán told Valencia's official website.

"There are very good players who have been left on the bench, and I'm convinced that if they had played, they would have helped the team too, because I have faith in all of them. Every game they've played or every training session they're taken part in shows that to me."

Instead, the coach explained that his decision to start Hugo Duro ahead of Sadiq and Rafa Mir was purely tactical.

"We started with Hugo Duro, and I like what he's bringing to our play. Both last week and this week, I think it was important for him to start, and that doesn't mean that we don't believe in Sadiq or in Rafa Mir," he stated.

"I'm very happy with all three strikers. They're performing at a high level and each of them brings something I'm very happy with the three forwards I have; in my opinion, all three are at a very high level and can help us a lot."

With a few matches remaining this season, Sadiq will be hoping for more opportunities to prove himself and push for a starting place as Valencia aim to secure a European spot.

Adeyemi Adewale

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