Arsenal's Thomas Partey has bid a fond farewell to Mikel Arteta's assistant, Carlos Cuesta, who is poised to become the new head coach at Parma, leaving his own future uncertain.
Cuesta, who has been part of Arteta's team since 2020 and previously coached at Atletico Madrid and Juventus, is now preparing for his first senior role in Italy.
In an emotional message, he thanked Arsenal for providing him with the opportunity to develop his skills and expressed gratitude to Arteta for his trust upon confirming his departure.
Cuesta penned: "After five beautiful years it's hard to put this into words, but I can only express how grateful I am for having lived my day-to-day with such special people and feel what it means to represent this football club, with its incredible history and values.
"It has been a privilege to have had the chance to work with the players, staff, directors and all the employees of the club and at the same time, to receive an extra push from our amazing fans in every match. Enjoy the journey, because it is a very exciting one. Thank you @arsenal."
He expressed his gratitude towards Arteta, saying: "And then, to the person that made it happen. Thank you. That's the only thing I can say. Thank you for your trust, for giving me the opportunity to be next to you and for showing me with constant facts which is the meaning of the word "courage". You've taught me a lot, and I will carry it always with me. From the bottom of my heart, thank you."
Partey responded to Cuesta's post with a heartfelt message, simply writing: "Thank you Carlitos," accompanied by three heart emojis.
This comes amidst uncertainty surrounding Partey's own future at Arsenal as he nears the end of his contract after five seasons in North London.
Arsenal are reportedly on the verge of signing Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, casting further doubt over Partey's future at the club. Despite ongoing talks about a potential new contract before his current one expires on June 30, no agreement has been reached for the seasoned Ghanaian international.
Since his transfer from Atletico Madrid in 2020, Partey has made 167 appearances and scored nine goals for the Gunners.
As his contract expiry looms, speculation is mounting that an agreement may not be reached, and Partey could soon be seeking a new challenge elsewhere.
Arteta is set to be disheartened by the news, having expressed his support for Partey's contract renewal following the midfielder's pivotal performances in Arsenal's 2024-25 campaign. Partey was a mainstay in the team, featuring in 31 Premier League matches and playing 11 times during their journey to the Champions League semi-finals.
"Yes. I think consistency-wise it's been his best season," Arteta remarked. "The way he's played, performed, his availability, has been exceptional and he's a really important player for us."