Emmanuel Adebayor says he advised ‘great player’ Thomas Partey to join Arsenal over clubs like Manchester United or Chelsea.

Arsenal's Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey (L) vies with Manchester United's Brazilian midfielder Fred (R) during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on November 1, 2020. (Photo by Shaun Botterill / POOL / AFP)
Arsenal’s Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey (L) vies with Manchester United’s Brazilian midfielder Fred (R) on November 1, 2020. (Photo by Shaun Botterill / POOL / AFP)

Thomas Partey joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid over the summer, and Emmanuel Adebayor claims he had a role to play in advising the midfielder to make the switch to North London.

Speaking in November, former Arsenal striker Adebayor heaped praise on Partey and explained why he told the 27-year-old to follow in his footsteps – joining the Premier League and playing at the Emirates Stadium.

“I mentioned clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal…Chelsea,” Adebayor said. “I told him ‘listen, I had a chance to play in England and I had a chance to play for Arsenal and somewhere you have to go to is Arsenal’.

“Because he’s still young, he’s still learning. Arsenal, I am lucky to know, is a familiar club. I’m very happy and impressed about his first steps in the team, doing quite well.

“Unfortunately, we all saw what happened against Aston Villa at home [when Partey got injured], but he’s a great player, great personality, one of my best friends in (the) Ghana national team – he’s like a younger brother who’s always in for advice.”

How much of a part Adebayor actually played in the move, it’s hard to know for sure. If we’re being honest, we already knew Partey was keen to join Arsenal for a while, even following the club when he was younger. So he didn’t need much convincing.

At the very least, Adebayor didn’t put him off the transfer, so that’s something. I’m not sure how many Arsenal fans it will convince to reconcile with the 36-year-old former Arsenal, Manchester City, and Spurs striker, but it’s a step in the right direction.