Thomas Partey’s representatives have hit back strongly at comments made by Villarreal head coach Marcelino García, expressing dissatisfaction with what they described as unfair public criticism of the Ghana international.

The 32-year-old midfielder joined the Yellow Submarines last summer on a two-year deal after leaving Arsenal as a free agent. However, his time at the Estadio de la Cerámica has been challenging, with Partey struggling to rediscover the form he showed during his spells at Atlético Madrid and in the Premier League.

Since his arrival, Partey has found consistent minutes hard to come by, often being used as a substitute and currently sitting behind 17-year-old Carlos Marcia in Villarreal’s midfield hierarchy. His limited role prompted Marcelino to openly question the player’s level, suggesting Partey has not met expectations and is no longer the same player he once knew. The coach also implied that off-field issues had affected the midfielder’s mental readiness to perform at the highest level.

In response, Partey’s camp strongly rejected those claims, accusing the coach of publicly shifting blame onto the player. They explained that Partey has been dealing with ongoing groin and knee problems—issues they insist the coaching staff are fully aware of—and believe the matter should have been handled internally rather than in the media.

Despite his struggles, Partey has still featured in 19 matches across all competitions this season, making 14 appearances in La Liga and five in the UEFA Champions League.

With interest from Saudi clubs persisting and his role under Marcelino appearing limited, speculation continues to grow that Partey’s stay at Villarreal may not extend beyond this season. The midfielder will also be hoping to regain full fitness and form in time to push for a place in Ghana’s Black Stars squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.