The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has reaffirmed its confidence in midfielder Thomas Partey, insisting he remains an integral part of the Black Stars despite recent criticism at club level.
The GFA’s Communications Director, Henry Asante Twum, made the clarification following comments by Villarreal head coach Marcelino García, who questioned Partey’s performance after the club’s UEFA Champions League defeat to Bayer Leverkusen.
Partey, 32, joined Villarreal as a free agent after the expiration of his contract with Arsenal. However, his time at the Spanish club has been hampered by injury setbacks, with reports suggesting he has recently been playing through pain.
Speaking in an interview, Asante Twum described the Villarreal coach’s remarks as overly harsh and stressed that one performance should not define a player of Partey’s calibre.
“We believe in the quality of Partey, and we do not believe one game defines him as a player,” he said.
“At the FA, we do not share the coach’s view on this matter. Partey remains a top player, and we have a strong belief in his qualities.”
He added that Partey continues to be a key figure in the Black Stars setup as Ghana intensifies preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Thomas Partey is expected to be named in Ghana’s squad for the upcoming international friendly matches against Austria and Germany next month, which form part of the team’s build-up to the global tournament.
