Former Liverpool Midfielder Naby Keita Faces Suspension and Fine from Werder Bremen
Naby Keita, the former Liverpool midfielder, has been suspended by Werder Bremen until the end of the season and handed a “substantial fine” following his refusal to travel with the team for Sunday’s Bundesliga clash against Bayer Leverkusen.
The club’s decision came after Keita, 29, learned that he would not be starting the match and subsequently opted to return home instead of accompanying the team.
Unfortunately for Werder Bremen, they suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat against Leverkusen, who clinched the Bundesliga title.
Expressing the club’s stance on Keita’s actions, football director Clemens Fritz stated, “We won’t tolerate Naby’s behaviour. He let his team down during a challenging period, considering our recent performance struggles and squad availability, by prioritizing his personal interests over the team’s.”
Fritz emphasized the crucial need for unity and focus in the team, especially at this stage of the season, where every game holds significant importance. Consequently, Werder Bremen felt compelled to take disciplinary action against Keita.
As part of his punishment, the Guinea international will not participate in team training sessions or be allowed in the first-team dressing room.
Keita, who joined Werder Bremen in June 2023 after a successful stint at Liverpool, has had limited playing time with the German side, making only five league appearances, including just one start.
