Villarreal boss Marcelino insists Thomas Partey is 'mentally prepared' to face Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League on Tuesday, just 24 hours before the midfielder appears in court over multiple rape charges. The former Arsenal star denies all allegations but will line up against his old rivals in north London before attending his plea hearing at Southwark Crown Court.
Partey to appear in court after Champions League clash with Spurs
Partey was charged in July with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, relating to alleged incidents between 2021 and 2022 while he was at Arsenal. He joined Villarreal on a free transfer in August and has already featured in all four of their Liga matches this season. On Wednesday, the Ghanaian will face a plea hearing in London after travelling with Villarreal for their European clash.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportMarcelino says Partey 'mentally prepared' to face Spurs
Speaking on Monday, Marcelino backed the midfielder to perform against Spurs: “He (Partey) is with the group. I’m totally convinced that he is mentally prepared, technically prepared, to play the game tomorrow night. For sure, he’ll be ready.
He added: “We are really happy that Thomas is with us for his football capacity and ability, and his presence as a human. He’s a great player with lots of experience… I think he will get back to his top level which we all know that he’s got and I’m very happy he’s with us in the team.”
AFPPartey's rape charges from time with Arsenal
The five rape charges relate to alleged incidents between April 2021 and June 2022, while Partey was still at Arsenal. The sexual assault charge involves an incident alleged to have taken place in February 2022. Partey has been granted conditional bail, which requires him to inform police of international travel and prohibits any contact with the complainants.
Villarreal aware of rape charge before signing Partey
Villarreal signed Partey knowing he was under investigation, stressing their respect for the presumption of innocence. The Spanish side have leaned on his top-level experience as they begin their Champions League campaign. His ongoing legal battle, however, threatens to overshadow his contribution on the pitch.
