Atletico Madrid star Thomas Partey has been impressed with himself for breaking into the first team of Diego Simeone’s side.
Partey who joined Spanish La Liga side in 2013 was loaned to RCD Mallorca and Almeria respectively for a season each before returning to his parent club in 2015.
Since then the midfielder has been a part of the first team squad of he has ranked up a total of 185 appearances for Atletico de Madrid, scoring 24 goals in the process.
He has also helped Atleti win two major trophies, the Europa League in 2018 and Super Cup the same year beating Real Madrid to victory.
Reflecting on his career, the 27-year-old said not being in a hurry to secure a move elsewhere and his hardwork has led to him breaking into the first team at the Wanda Metropolitano.
“It’s a dream come true for me,” he told the official club website. “Sometimes, I can’t believe I am here because I look back at my friends and I can’t even imagine myself here.
“I sometimes want to ask them, what have I done to be here? Why are they not here?
“But then I tell myself it is because I was patient, I was not in a hurry to make it. I feel I have to congratulate myself all the time because it is not easy to reach this level.
The midfielder is having an incredible campaign with Diego Simeone’s side having made 39 appearances in all competitions this season.
Due to this he is being courted by Arsenal but Black Stars coach CK Akonnor has urged him to snub the Premier League interest and stay at Atletico Madrid.
Thomas Partey and his side are in action today as they take on German side RB Leipzig in the Portuguese capital in the quarter-final of the UEFA Champions League at 7:00 pm.
The midfielder would be expected to play a key role tonight if they have any hopes of seeing off the German side to reach the semi-final.