Black Stars head coach Chris Hughton has indicated he isn’t worried about calling Thomas Partey to Ghana’s men’s football team should Partey move to the Saudi Pro League.
The veteran trainer expressed this feeling when asked about the Arsenal player’s chances of getting called up to the Black Stars should he move to the Middle Eastern country in an interview with talkSPORT.
Partey was heavily linked with a move to the uber rich Saudi league earlier this offseason after Arsenal signed Declan Rice for a record 105 million Pounds from West Ham United.
Rice and Partey both play in defensive midfield, and the Ghanaian’s inability to lock down a starting place in the latter part of the 2022-2023 season fueled belief that he was on his way out of the Emirates Stadium.
However, Partey has performed well in preseason games and looks to have a role to play in the 2023-2024 season for the Gunners.
“ No [it won’t influence me]. Thomas is an experienced player [and he] had a wonderful season at Arsenal last season. Firstly it’s about playing; players that are going to be playing regularly so they keep their fitness, and of course it’s about the league that they are playing in…but it’s about playing and playing regularly” Hughton said.
The Saudi Pro League has splashed huge amounts to sign the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Riyadh Mahrez and Alan Saint-Maximin.
"Thomas is an experienced player"
Black Stars coach Chris Hughton has revealed that his selection of Thomas Partey 🇬🇭 would not be influenced by a possible move to Saudi Arabia
Via @talkSPORT pic.twitter.com/ePl6CP2b0I
— #3Sports (@3SportsGh) August 1, 2023
