Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, Naby Keita, Football
Nasir Jabbar
An ex-Liverpool star has been told that he must LEAVE his new club.
Naby Keita, who was signed by Jurgen Klopp, has been punished by Werder Bremen after he refused to board the team bus ahead of a key game when he found out that he wasn't named in the starting XI.
He joined the Bundesliga outfit from Liverpool on a free transfer, with the 29-year-old contracted until 2026.
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But it appears his future lies away from Bremen.
Manager Ole Werner has said Keita needs to leave as he defended the club's actions against the player.
"I do believe that we have been very, very humane and very, very transparent with him at all times since he joined us," he said.
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"[Naby] Keita is not our issue right now, and I believe that it's best for both sides to simply look ahead and into the future, to see what good solutions Naby can find for himself and what solutions we can find without him."
The Guinea international has claimed he apologised for the incident, but Werner is not aware of such apology.
"It could be that it somehow happened in the meantime, it just wouldn't have reached me," he added.
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Keita joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig for £48 million in the summer of 2017.
But injuries plagued his spell at Anfield, restricting him to just 49 Premier League starts in five seasons.
Despite how his spell in England ended, Liverpool fans give a 'lot of love' to Keita, who revealed that he's remembered fondly whenever he meets supporters.
"It was tough mentally, of course," he said. "I was the first to get frustrated. I wanted to play every game but unfortunately I had a lot of injuries that prevented me from giving more than I did. But that’s the life of a footballer. I did everything I could to be there for the team at all times, but unfortunately injuries are part of our job."
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He continued: "The Liverpool fans have given me a lot of love. Even today, wherever I meet them, they show me the same love. They’re the best fans in the world. Liverpool is a family and you never walk alone. My aim was to fulfil my childhood dream of winning titles. Winning the Premier League after 30 years, winning the Champions League - these are incredible moments that I can’t forget. We won a lot of trophies and we were able to make our fans happy."