Villarreal supporters’ club president criticises La Liga side's push to sign former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey

Partey set to sign for فياريال
Charged with rape and sexual assault
Fan group criticises club for transfer

Shortly after the 32-year-old left Arsenal, the midfielder was charged with five counts of rape and one of sexual assault. And as Villarreal close in on the Ghana international, Cesar Pena, president of the Villarreal supporters’ club in Villafranca de Barros, Extremadura, believes the Yellow Submarine should not be trying to recruit a player accused of “such serious crimes”.

Pena told The Athletic: “It’s a complicated issue because, in football terms, we all agree that it’s a great opportunity. He’s a top-level player who has proven himself to all Spaniards, for example, in this year’s دوري أبطال أوروبا tie against ريال مدريد. My personal opinion is the same as that expressed by most fans on social media: I would not agree to sign a player accused of such serious crimes and I would understand if the fans booed the player on the pitch.u0026nbsp;

“I hope the club takes the fans’ opinion into account, as I believe this is not just a matter of improving the squad. However, whatever the outcome of the trial, if they sign him, most fans will not agree with it, even if he is ultimately found not guilty.”

Partey, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges, is expected to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. The charges relate to three women, with the alleged crimes said to have taken place between 2021 and 2022.u0026nbsp;

Partey, who is nearing a La Liga return five years after leaving Atletico Madrid, could sign for Villarreal before the Spanish outfit take on his old club Arsenal in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday.u0026nbsp;