Villarreal head coach Marcelino has expressed frustration over Thomas Partey’s struggles since joining the Spanish side.
The Ghana midfielder moved to Villarreal on a free transfer after leaving Arsenal last summer. However, his time at the club has been marked by limited playing opportunities, with Partey featuring in 21 matches across all competitions but completing only five full games, amid ongoing concerns about his fitness and form.
Partey was part of the squad that suffered a 3-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League midweek, a game that came after Villarreal had already been eliminated from the tournament.
Following the loss, Marcelino did not hold back in his assessment of the 32-year-old.
“Thomas [Partey], I think there’s a world of difference between the Thomas we know at Arsenal and this one. A world of difference. It’s very difficult to play at this pace in today’s football,” he said.
“So, I think it’s been six months now, and that’s enough time for this player to show us what he was capable of, or what he’s showing us now,” Marcelino added.
Partey, who has been linked with a potential exit at the end of the season, is expected to feature when Villarreal face Osasuna in La Liga on Saturday.
