Ghana football icon Michael Essien has made an unexpected admission, stating that he would pick Thomas Partey over himself during their peak playing days.
Essien, who represented Ghana in the 2006 and 2014 World Cups, is celebrated as one of the country’s finest footballers, with a stellar career that includes winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League with Chelsea.
In an interview with Sporty FM, Essien praised Partey’s exceptional skills and described Partey as a remarkable player, revealing that he would choose Partey over himself in their prime.
“Between myself and Thomas Partey in our primes, I don’t think I would pick myself. I would go for Partey. He is a fantastic midfielder, you know,” Essien stated.
“I will never put myself ahead of Thomas Partey. It is two different generations so I will put Partey ahead. He is that guy I love and I speak to him now and then,” he added.
Partey, who made his mark with Atlético Madrid starting in 2015, has become one of the top defensive midfielders of his generation.
His impressive performances earned him a €50 million move to Arsenal in 2020, where he has played over 100 Premier League matches and won the FA Community Shield.
