Emmanuel Agyemang Badu urges support for Thomas Partey amid Villarreal criticism

Former Ghana Black Stars midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang Badu has called on fans and stakeholders to continue supporting Thomas Partey following recent criticism from Villarreal coach Marcelino García Toral.Badu stressed that despite the midfielder’s struggles at his Spanish club, the focus should be on encouragement rather than harsh public commentary.“I believe Thomas Partey will come back stronger. The Black Stars need him for the World Cup even more than Villarreal do. We must continue to support him and keep him in our prayers,” Badu said on Akoma 87.9 FM.Marcelino suggested there was “a world of difference between the Thomas we knew at Arsenal and this one,” adding that the 32‑year-old midfielder has struggled to adapt to the pace demanded in modern football.He further implied that six months at the club should have been enough for Partey to prove himself, a statement widely interpreted as a critique of the Ghana international’s consistency.Partey has struggled for regular impact at Villarreal, featuring in 21 games across all competitions and being substituted at halftime against Leverkusen.