Villarreal boss Marcelino insists Thomas Partey is in the right frame of mind to play against Tottenham before a court date hours later to answer charges of rape.
Partey, who left Arsenal on a free transfer in the summer, is expected at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday morning.
The 32-year-old Ghana international is on trial accused of five counts of rape against two women and one of sexual assault against a third woman.
First, though, he is in the Villarreal squad to face Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday, the opening night of this season’s Champions League.
‘I’m totally convinced that he is mentally prepared, technically prepared, to play the game,’ said Marcelino. ‘For sure he will be ready. We are really happy that Thomas is with us for his football capacity and ability and his presence as a human.
‘He is a great player with lots of experience. He has played in some top sides. We know he has a great ability and great level.’
Marcelino would not confirm whether Partey would start because he was not in the habit of revealing his team selection so far in advance.
‘They find out when they arrive in the dressing room what the team is,’ he said at a press conference in Tottenham on the eve of the game, but he confirmed Partey had travelled from Spain with the squad.
‘We’re interpreting stuff about and talking about a player that could be totally innocent,’ added Marcelino. ‘We are playing a game of football where the important thing is football. This is where football was invented, after all. We’re talking more about Thomas than the game.’
Tottenham winger Manor Solomon, who will spend this season on loan at Villarreal, is also part of the squad.
So is Juan Foyth, a 27-year-old Argentina defender, who spent four years at Spurs before from 2017, and former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe.
