By Kwame Bediako
Villarreal head coach Marcelino didn’t hold back after his team’s 3-0 drubbing by Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League, unleashing sharp criticism on Ghana Black Stars deputy captain Thomas Partey.
The 32-year-old midfielder, who joined Villarreal as a free agent at the start of the 2025-2026 season after five turbulent years at Arsenal, has struggled to make an impact.
Marcelino highlighted a “world of difference” between the dynamic player fans knew in London and the version showing up now in Spain.
Partey’s move back to La Liga came amid controversy, following legal troubles in England where he faced multiple charges of rape and sexual assault.
Despite the fresh start, his Villarreal stint has been marked by frustration on the sidelines.
In 21 appearances across all competitions, he’s logged just 1,068 minutes, barely 17.8 hours of action, including a mere 45 minutes in the Leverkusen loss that left Villarreal teetering near the bottom of the Champions League group stage.
Marcelino’s post-match presser laid bare the coach’s disappointment.
“Thomas, I think there’s a world of difference between Thomas we know at Arsenal and this one. It’s very difficult to play at this pace in today’s football”; he said.
The blunt assessment underscores Partey’s inability to match the high-intensity demands of modern soccer, leaving fans and pundits questioning if the Ghanaian star can rediscover his form.
Six months into his Villarreal tenure, Marcelino made it clear time is up for excuses.
“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,” the coach added.
With Villarreal’s European hopes fading, Partey’s limited role has become a focal point, especially as the Black Stars gear up for future African football battles.
