Naby Keita, the former Liverpool midfielder, has found himself in hot water after walking out on his Werder Bremen teammates upon discovering that he would not be starting in Sunday’s Bundesliga match against Bayer Leverkusen. The 29-year-old was not included in Werder’s squad for the game, and the club’s sporting director, Clemens Fritz, shed some light on the situation before kick-off.
Fritz stated, “After Naby found out yesterday that he would not be playing from the start, he decided not to get on the bus but to go home. We will have a discussion with him and his agent tomorrow regarding the consequences of his actions and how we should proceed.”
This incident comes amid a challenging season for Keita, who has only featured in five Bundesliga games for Werder due to injuries. Despite being named in the last five matchday squads, he remained on the bench during Werder’s match against Eintracht Frankfurt last Friday, making substitute appearances in the two previous matches.
Since October, these appearances have been Keita’s first for Werder, as he had been sidelined due to injuries and international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations. Keita joined Werder on a free transfer after leaving Liverpool at the end of the 2022-23 season. Prior to his time at Liverpool, Keita played in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig, who sold him to Liverpool for a fee of £52.75 million (now $65.3 million) in 2018.
Unfortunately, Keita’s career at Liverpool was plagued by injuries, limiting him to just 13 appearances across all competitions in his final season with the club. Despite his injury setbacks, Keita still managed to contribute to Liverpool’s success, winning the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup during his time there.
The incident involving Keita walking out on his teammates raises questions about his professionalism and commitment to the team. It will be interesting to see how Werder Bremen handles the situation and what consequences Keita will face as a result of his actions.
The incident also sheds light on the challenges faced by players who struggle with injuries. Keita’s time at Liverpool was marred by frequent injuries, preventing him from fully showcasing his skills and potential. This serves as a reminder of how crucial physical fitness is for professional athletes and the impact injuries can have on their careers.
In conclusion, Naby Keita’s decision to walk out on his teammates has landed him in trouble with Werder Bremen. This incident highlights the difficulties Keita has faced this season due to injuries and raises questions about his commitment to the team. It remains to be seen how Werder will handle the situation and what consequences Keita will face.