It’s Coach’s Responsibility to Identify Partey’s problem – Agyemang Badu Reacts to Marcelino

Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, a member of Ghana’s U-20 FIFA World Cup in 2009, has fired back at Villarreal coach Marcelino Garcia Toral’s recent comments on Ghana’s international Thomas Teye Partey.

The Yellow Submarines of Spanish football signed the former Arsenal midfielder on a free transfer on August 7th, 2025, and Villarreal indicated that they were aware that the player was now involved in legal processes in England.

Marcelino engaged with the press after their last round of the league phase of the UEFA Champions League at BayArena, where he sounded controversial on the Ghanaian international’s career at Estadio Ceramica.

During the press conference, Marcelino stated that Partey had six months with the club to demonstrate his ability, implying that the Ghanaian had fallen short of expectations.

The Ghanaian midfielder, after arriving at Villarreal, has battled for consistent playing time and effect on his team in key events like the Champions League, which they were ousted from by Bayern Leverkusen.

The newly appointed International Relations Manager, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, in an interview with Akoma FM, expressed surprise at Marcelino’s tone and public comparison with Partey’s Premier League days.

Agyemang Badu declared, “I was very shocked by what the coach said about Partey. He is your player, and when he is not performing to expectations, it is the responsibility of the coach and the sporting director to identify the real problem. Comparing him to his former club is unnecessary.”

Badu stated that Marcelino went too hard on Partey and shouldn’t have made those comments. In light of the impending FIFA World Cup campaign, he underlined Partey’s significance to Ghana’s national team.

“I believe Thomas Partey will come back stronger. The Black Stars need him for the World Cup even more than Villarreal does. We must continue to support him and keep him in our prayers.”

Story by Attakorah (Pramaso)