Thomas Party (left) and Wilfred Osei Palmer (right)
Source: Africa Publicity
Tema Youth owner, Wilfred Osei Palmer, has opened up about the deceptive circumstances surrounding Thomas Partey’s transfer from the Ghanaian club to Atlético Madrid. In an exclusive interview with Hot FM, Palmer recounted how the midfielder misled the club prior to his move to Spain.
“On the night he was travelling, he told me he had a stomach issue and missed our game against Kotoko,” Palmer explained. “Later, I found out he had left to sign for Atletico Madrid.”
According to Palmer, there was no formal transfer process. “There wasn’t any proper transfer. We wrote to Atletico, and they never bothered to respond,” he added. “At the time, I was tempted to go to FIFA, but Moses Odjer pleaded with me to let it go for Partey’s sake.”
Despite the frustration, Palmer chose to let the matter slide. “I held back, knowing we could still benefit from a solidarity fee if he moved to another club,” he concluded.
Partey’s eventual rise to stardom at Atlético Madrid made the decision less bitter, but Palmer’s story sheds light on the complexities of football transfers and the challenges clubs face behind the scenes.
