THOMAS PARTEY was advised by Emmanuel Adebayor to reject Manchester United and Chelsea to sign for Arsenal, the striker has claimed.
The Gunners paid £45.5million to sign the Ghana international in a deadline day switch from Atletico Madrid.
Thomas Partey has shown his potential in just a few short weeks at ArsenalCredit: Guardian News & Media
Emmanuel Adebayor has revealed the advice he regularly gives the midfielderCredit: PA:Empics Sport
But they were not alone in tracking Partey, according to Adebayor, who even believes Arsenal can WIN the Premier League having signed the midfielder.
The 36-year-old told reporters in Ghana: “About six months to a year ago, he was telling me about contacts he had had from England.
“He mentioned Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea.
“And I told him, ‘Listen, if I have a chance to play in England, a chance to play for Arsenal, the place you to have go to is Arsenal’.
“Because he is young, he is still learning and Arsenal are a family club, and I’m very happy and impressed with his first steps in the team.
“Unfortunately we all saw what happened against Aston Villa at home but he is a great player, a great personality.
“He is like a younger brother to me who is always looking for advice and we get along very well.”
Adebayor says he has helped Partey, 27, settle in London and wishes he had a similarly experienced pro to guide him when signing for Arsenal from Monaco in 2006.
He continued: “When I went to Arsenal, I didn’t have anybody to tell me what to do or where to go.
“I even told him the area where to stay, where he can find a beautiful and calm house. Because you need to be calm to play better on the pitch.”
If Leicester won the league four years ago, I think Arsenal with Aubameyang, Lacazette, now Thomas Partey – they have a big chance.
Emmanuel Adebayor
A stop-start season has seen Mikel Arteta’s side lose as many league games as they have won, with Aston Villa claiming a 3-0 win at Emirates Stadium a week ago.
Yet, given the unpredictable nature of the Premier League, Adebayor believes the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette can lead the club to a shock title win.
The striker, who is currently a free agent, added: “If Leicester won the league four years ago, I think Arsenal with Aubameyang, Lacazette, now Thomas Partey – they have a big chance.
“It is going to be difficult, if you see the way Liverpool are playing now, it is going to be very difficult.
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“But, as a footballer, we went to the World Cup in 2006 with Togo and were supposed to play France with [Zinedine] Zidane, Thierry Henry, [David] Trezeguet.
“But we wanted to win because, when you are on the battlefield, you will have chances on your side. Unfortunately it didn’t happen.
“But I think, going to Arsenal, in his mind, [Partey] will think he can win the league.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
