Arsenal have found themselves dragged back into the spotlight around Thomas Partey, this time through very strong comments made by his current manager in Spain.
Villarreal coach Marcelino García Toral did not hide his frustration after his side’s heavy 3-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.
Speaking after the match, he admitted his team were clearly second best, especially before the break. As relayed by Cope, the Spanish coach said the German side were superior in “intensity, rhythm and chances”, adding that Villarreal played at “a very low level” and that, with that performance, it was “impossible” to get a positive result.
However, Marcelino went much further when addressing Partey, who joined Villarreal last summer after his contract with Arsenal expired. The Ghana international had been a regular starter in north London, but his arrival in Spain was controversial due to the serious legal investigations surrounding him.
Marcelino openly compared the midfielder he saw in the Premier League with the one he now coaches. “From the Thomas we knew at Arsenal to this one, there is a world of difference. A world,” he said. He also questioned the player’s ability to cope with the modern game, stating: “It is very difficult to play football today at this rhythm.”
The Villarreal manager stressed that Partey has had enough time to prove himself. “He has already been here six months, enough time to show what he was, instead of what he is showing,” Marcelino concluded.
Partey has featured 21 times across all competitions this season, without registering a goal or an assist.
Villarreal’s European campaign has been disastrous, finishing second from bottom with just one point from eight matches, a context that has only amplified the scrutiny on high-profile arrivals like the former Arsenal midfielder.