Berta’s Arrival as Sporting Director Could Hold the Key to Partey’s Arsenal Future
Berta Factor in Partey's Arsenal Contract Talks
- The future of Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey remains uncertain
- His significance to Mikel Arteta's squad was evident
- However, conversations regarding a potential new deal for the Ghanaian midfielder are reportedly ongoing.
The future of Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey remains uncertain as his contract nears its expiration, but the recent appointment of Andrea Berta as the club’s sporting director could be pivotal in resolving the contractual impasse surrounding the influential Ghanaian international.
Despite what many consider his most impressive season since joining Arsenal, the 31-year-old’s next steps at the Emirates Stadium are yet to be determined.
His significance to Mikel Arteta’s squad was evident in the frustration following his late yellow card against Paris St-Germain, a booking that will sideline him for the crucial first leg of the Champions League semi-final.
The unnecessary exchange with Dani Ceballos in the 85th minute, with Arsenal comfortably leading 5-1, highlighted his importance and the potential impact of his absence.
Having made 45 appearances this season, Partey has become an integral component of Arteta’s strongest eleven. His unavailability for the PSG clash is undoubtedly a setback to Arsenal’s aspirations of reaching the Champions League final. This makes his current contractual limbo seem paradoxical, yet several factors are at play.
Current indications suggest that the Ghana international is poised to depart the Emirates Stadium when his contract concludes at the end of the current campaign. When questioned about Partey’s contract situation last week, Arteta offered a cryptic response.
Asked if any progress had been made, Arteta stated, “Yes, there is progress with all the players. I’ll leave that to [sporting director] Andrea [Berta] and the club to decide and to talk about.”
Pressed further on whether the intention was to retain Partey, Arteta added, “The intention is very clear. I’ll leave that to Andrea and the club to take a step forward.”
The fact that Partey has not yet signed a new contract with only a month of the season remaining might suggest a lack of urgency from the club to secure his services.
However, conversations regarding a potential new deal for the Ghanaian midfielder are reportedly ongoing.
While it remains to be seen if this signals a shift in Arsenal’s approach, well-placed sources indicate that Andrea Berta’s arrival as sporting director has introduced a different perspective on whether Partey could have a future with the Gunners beyond the current season.
Berta and Partey share a long-standing professional relationship from their time together at Atletico Madrid. Notably, it was Berta who sanctioned Partey’s £45 million move to Arsenal in 2020, a factor that could now play a significant role in the ongoing contract negotiations. Football fans in Ghana, including those in Kumasi, will be keenly following these developments regarding one of their key national team players.
