The Ghanaian midfielder has become a key cog in the Atletico de Madrid side under Diego Simeone.

1. Thomas Partey left Ghana without most of his family knowing
When the time came for Thomas to make the move from Ghana to Spain, he left very suddenly. His father was a football coach and, together with Thomas’ agent, had been planning his exit from Ghanaian second division side Tema Youth. One day Thomas was driven to the Ghanaian capital of Accra, handed his passport and told he’d be leaving there and then. The rest of his family found out once Thomas was already in Spain, where he signed with Atlético de Madrid!