Failed £48M Klopp signing in hot water at new club after insubordination

Naby Keita was one of my favourite players at one point but after a failed spell at Liverpool, he is struggling to find success at Werder Bremen.

The former Liverpool midfielder found himself in controversy after he abruptly left for home upon learning he was not included in the starting lineup for their match against Bayer Leverkusen.

The 29-year-old, who moved back to Germany last summer after a challenging five years at Anfield marked by frequent injuries, has made only five appearances this season due to continued fitness issues.

Clemens Fritz, Werder Bremen sporting director, confirmed the incident, telling reporters: "After Naby found out yesterday that he would not be playing from the start, he decided not to get on the bus but to go home.

"We will talk to him and his agent tomorrow about the consequences and how to proceed."

In Keita's absence, Werder Bremen faced a tough game, losing 5-0 to Leverkusen, who clinched their first-ever German title, effectively ending Bayern Munich’s long-standing dominance.

This defeat was highlighted by Florian Wirtz's impressive hat-trick.

Keita's move to Liverpool in 2018 for £59 million from RB Leipzig came with high expectations, but he struggled to consistently deliver the performances that had made him a standout at his previous club.

With only 95 appearances for Liverpool, his time at the club did not meet expectations.

Upon his release, Werder Bremen quickly signed Keita on a free transfer, though he has yet to make a significant impact at the club. Reports from the German outlet DeichStube in December highlighted ongoing concerns about Keita’s conduct and punctuality, including instances of him being late for training and his reluctance to engage in promotional activities.

Keita issues statement

In reaction, Keita has released a statement suggesting he did not act insubordinately.

"I wish to clarify my situation at my club Werder Bremen," Keita wrote.

"Ever since I arrived at this magnificent club, I have always shown my professionalism. I have always tried to help the club and the great supporters, especially during this time of poor results.

"Since the start of my career, I have never had problems with my discipline and have always shown an exemplary attitude. I will not accept any person trying to tarnish my image.

"To the supporters, I have always worked hard in training to get the right result at the weekend. In training, I can only give my best. And to my teammates, good luck for the match."