Report: Atletico Madrid upset with Partey over Arsenal move

Atletico Madrid are peeved over the way Thomas Partey allowed his Arsenal move to materialize, sources told Rodrigo Faez and Alex Kirkland of ESPN.

The midfielder joined the Gunners on deadline day after the Premier League side triggered his release clause, which is reportedly valued at €50 million.

Atletico said they were notified of the clause being payed at 11:28 p.m. local time, just over 30 minutes before the transfer window closed. That happened despite Partey being a known target for Arsenal throughout the window.

With the fee deposited at the La Liga headquarters in Madrid, there was nothing Atletico could do to keep hold of the influential midfielder, something manager Diego Simeone said he was "worried" could happen as the deadline approached.

Having seen other players depart under similar circumstances in recent years, Atleti had tried to extend Partey's contract and increase his release clause. But the two sides couldn't come to an agreement on new terms, opening the door for Arsenal to secure a last-minute deal.

Atletico maintained throughout the summer that they wouldn't negotiate a transfer fee for the 27-year-old, who developed into a vital piece of Simeone's squad. He would only leave if his release clause was met, and Arsenal, after missing out on Houssem Aouar, returned at the 11th hour and did just that.