Thomas Partey Could Play For Villarreal At Tottenham On Eve Of Court Hearing

Thomas Partey is scheduled to look astatine Southwark crown tribunal connected Wednesday greeting to reply rape charges – aft his caller club, Villarreal, footwear disconnected their Champions League run astatine Tottenham connected Tuesday night.

It is an bonzer business pinch Partey, who spent 5 years astatine Arsenal before joining Villarreal successful August connected a free transfer, guaranteed a basking reception astatine Spurs’ stadium.

The Villarreal manager, Marcelino, evaded questions complete whether he would play Partey, who is simply a portion of nan squad successful London. But Marcelino insisted that Partey would beryllium capable to grip nan crippled – if selected.

Partey faces 5 counts of rape and 1 count of intersexual assault. The allegations subordinate to 3 women, who reported incidents which took spot betwixt 2021 and 2022.

“I’m wholly convinced that he is mentally prepared and technically prepared to play,” Marcelino said. “For judge he’ll beryllium ready. We are really happy that Thomas is pinch america for his shot capacity and expertise and his beingness arsenic a human. He’s a awesome subordinate pinch tons of experience. He’s played successful immoderate apical sides. We cognize he’s sewage a awesome expertise and awesome level.

“I deliberation he ended past play and started this play well. He settled successful during pre-season really, really well. I deliberation he will get backmost to his apical level which we each cognize that he’s sewage and I’m very happy he’s pinch america successful nan team.”

Marcelino was peppered pinch questions astir Partey by English journalists astatine Villarreal’s pre-match property conference, astatine 1 constituent exclaiming that “we are talking much astir Thomas than nan game”. Marcelino sought to steer nan speech connected to nan football.

“We’re interpreting worldly and talking astir a subordinate that could beryllium wholly innocent,” he said. “We’re playing a crippled of shot tomorrow wherever nan important point is football. This is wherever shot was invented, aft all.

“Thomas is pinch nan group. He’s available. And past tomorrow, if thing happens to nan subordinate successful position of fitness, he will beryllium pinch each of us.”