Wilfred Osei Kwaku Palmer, the owner of Tema Youth, once played a key role in nurturing Thomas Partey’s football career. However, for the past five years, the Arsenal midfielder has remained silent, leaving Palmer with more questions than answers.

In an interview with Hot FM, Palmer recounted the last time he spoke with Partey—back when he was a member of the Black Stars management committee. Since then, communication has completely ceased.

The roots of this silence, Palmer believes, may trace back to Partey’s controversial exit from Tema Youth. The club’s former boss recalled how the player left for Atletico Madrid under questionable circumstances. “There wasn’t any proper transfer,” Palmer revealed. “We wrote to Atletico, but they never responded. I considered taking the matter to FIFA, but Moses Odjer pleaded with me to let it go for the sake of Partey’s career. I stepped back, hoping we could still benefit from a solidarity fee in the future.”

What hurt Palmer the most, however, was how Partey left. “The night he was traveling, he told me he had a stomach issue and couldn’t play against Kotoko. Later, I found out he had already left to sign for Atletico Madrid.”

Now, years later, Palmer wonders if this deception is the reason for Partey’s prolonged silence. Though the midfielder has risen to global stardom, his former mentor remains in the shadows, waiting for a conversation that may never come.