Naby Keita’s stint at Werder Bremen took an unexpected turn last Sunday during the 29th Bundesliga match against Leverkusen (a 5-0 defeat), when the Guinean player decided not to board the bus for the game and instead went home. The Guinean international has now faced repercussions.
Facing scrutiny from his club’s management, the former Red tried to defend himself. “Since the first day of my signing with this wonderful club, I have always shown dedication and professionalism. My only desire has always been to help the club and bring happiness to the many supporters, especially in this period where the results are not what we wish for. Throughout my career, wherever I have been, I have never had any disciplinary issues and have always tried to set an example. So, I will not accept anyone tarnishing this image,” protested the Syli National midfielder (54 caps, 12 goals) via an Instagram story, indirectly denouncing false accusations against him. However, this apparently did not convince the German club’s management.
According to the Guinean media outlet Foot224, the sanction has indeed been imposed, and it is severe: the 29-year-old player has been suspended until the end of the season, will train separately from the professional group, and will pay a “considerable” fine. His outburst, therefore, will not have been without consequences and is ultimately the “climax” of a nightmare season for the 2019 Champions League winner. A season gone sour!
Plagued by recurring physical problems – a total of five, including a torn adductor and muscle discomfort during the first half of the season – the Conakry native has only been able to play five small Bundesliga matches this season. Under these circumstances, it’s difficult to make an impact in the German club, which signed him last summer when he was a free agent and coming off a challenging season in the Premier League (just 8 matches played).
Having already had a spell in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig (2016-2018), where he was a runner-up in Germany in 2017 and a member of the Bundesliga Team of the Season 2016-2017, the midfielder has not succeeded in his comeback. According to information from our colleagues at Foot224, the former Liverpool player will renegotiate with Werder Bremen at the end of the season. However, despite a contract running until 2026, a departure seems clearly on the horizon.
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