Partey Misses Villarreal Game Due to Injury

Villarreal head coach Marcelino Garcia has confirmed that Thomas Partey was left out of the squad due to injury concerns, as the club’s winless run extended to five games following a 2-2 draw with Osasuna on Saturday, January 31, 2026.

Speaking after kick-off, Marcelino revealed that the Ghanaian midfielder was absent because of discomfort in his pubic area and needed rest to avoid making the problem worse.

“We will be without Thomas Partey because he is experiencing discomfort in his pubic area,” Marcelino explained.

Partey’s absence comes at a difficult time for both the player and the club. Villarreal have struggled for form in recent weeks, and the 32-year-old midfielder has been under growing scrutiny. He was substituted at half-time during Villarreal’s 3-0 UEFA Champions League defeat to Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, a decision that sparked visible frustration from his coach.

After that match, Marcelino publicly suggested that Partey had not delivered the level of performance expected of him since joining the Spanish side. Those comments have reportedly caused tension within the team.

However, sources close to the player say Partey has been dealing with severe pubalgia, a chronic groin and lower-abdominal condition, for nearly two months. The injury has limited his movement and made it difficult for him to perform at his usual level without pain. Despite this, Partey reportedly chose to play through the discomfort rather than sit out, which may explain the dip in form that drew criticism.

The injury also helps explain Partey’s absence from Ghana’s international matches in November, when the Black Stars faced Japan and South Korea. He was advised to withdraw from national duty to focus on treatment and recovery, instead of risking further injury.

Sources insist that Partey’s commitment has never been in doubt, stressing that he has continued to manage the injury carefully while making himself available whenever possible. There is optimism that once fully fit, he will return to his best form for both Villarreal and the Black Stars.

Partey joined Villarreal on a free transfer after leaving Arsenal in August and has made 21 appearances in all competitions this season, though consistency has been a challenge.