A former Liverpool star has revealed a WhatsApp message he sent his team-mates after he went on strike.
After spending five seasons at Anfield, the 29-year-old departed the Reds last summer when his contract expired.
However, just months after joining Werder Bremen the midfielder found himself frozen out at his new club after refusing to board the team bus prior to a clash with Bayer Leverkusen.
Following his return to the Bundesliga Naby Keita had made just a single league start as they prepared to face Xabi Alonso’s side in April.
When Keita found out he had been left out of Ole Werner’s starting XI he refused to board the team bus and instead returned home as they went on to suffer a 5-0 defeat that saw Leverkusen secure their first-ever league title.
Naby Keita has revealed the message he sent his Werder Bremen team-mates after refusing to travel to a game last season
Keita has been frozen out after choosing not to travel for a clash with Bayer Leverkusen after learning he would not be starting the game
Bremen went on to lose 5-0 as Xabi Alonso’s side secured their first-ever Bundesliga title
German outlet Bild reported that Keita subsequently apologised to his team-mates in their group chat.
He wrote: ‘What I did may look like I let the team down just before an important match. I would like to apologize to my teammates who felt let down. You should know that this was not my intention.’
‘It’s hard for me not to be on the pitch with you. I want to give you my full support. I will be your biggest fan.’
Keita was immediately suspended and forced to train with the U23s for his actions, as Bremen sporting director Clemens Fritz insisted the club would not tolerate his behaviour.
‘We won’t tolerate Naby’s behaviour,’ Fritz said in a statement at the time.
Prior to joining Bremen the Guinea international spent five glittering seasons with Liverpool
Keita won both the Premier League and Champions League before leaving Liverpool in 2023
‘He let his team down in a time of difficulty surrounding our recent run of form and squad availability and put his own interests above those of the team. We can’t allow that.’
Despite the incident seemingly sounding the death knell on Keita’s time at Bremen, the Guinea international is reportedly determined to mend his relationship with the club.
‘It is not my decision that I should leave Bremen.’ Keita told Bild.
‘For me, the best thing would be to be part of the professional team again tomorrow and play for Werder Bremen.’
‘The fans also keep asking on social media what happened and why I don’t play for their club.
‘Of course there are also negative messages saying that I would collect the money and don’t want to play. But it’s not about the money for me, it’s the club that made this decision.’
The 29-year-old hopes to repair his relationship with Bremen and play for the club again
Jurgen Klopp paid £52m to sign Keita from RB Leipzig after he had earned a reputation as one of the best midfielders in the German top flight.
However, despite winning a host of trophies at Liverpool his time on Merseyside was blighted by multiple injuries and he was limited to just eight Premier League appearances in his final season at the club.
Keita’s current deal at Bremen is set to expire in the summer of 2026.