Former Liverpool star Naby Keita is about to leave Werder Bremen. The 29-year-old midfielder refused to be part of the squad for the away game in Leverkusen on Sunday after learning that he was not in the starting line-up despite numerous absences. Keita then didn’t travel to Leverkusen and went home.
“The action says it all, I don’t have to say much more,” said Werder coach Ole Werner, visibly angry after the encounter. “Everyone can form their own opinion, I formed mine. Of course this has nothing to do with team sports.” Werner announced a statement from the club about the incidents this Monday.
A suspension of Keita is considered likely. “We will talk to him and his advisor tomorrow about the consequences and what to do next,” Bremen’s football director Clemens Fritz said before the game in which Bayer Leverkusen secured the first championship title in the club’s history with a 5-0 win.
Keita moved to Werder last summer and sparked a lot of enthusiasm on the Weser, with many calling him the “royal transfer”. Due to numerous injuries, the Guinea international was unable to live up to expectations and only made five appearances in the Bundesliga.
Keita, whose contract runs until summer 2026, commented on the events via Instagram on Sunday. “Since the beginning of my career, I have never had problems with discipline wherever I have been and have always tried to be a role model. I will therefore not accept that anyone tarnishes this image,” Keita wrote. He always worked “selflessly and professionally”.
