A former Liverpool star has revealed a WhatsApp message he sent his teammates after going on strike.
After spending five seasons at Anfield, the 29-year-old left 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 ahead of a clash with Bayer Leverkusen.
After returning to the Bundesliga, Naby Keita had made just one league start as they prepared to face Xabi Alonso 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, where they suffered a 5–0 defeat, helping Leverkusen secure their first ever league title.
Naby Keita has revealed the message he sent his Werder Bremen teammates after refusing to travel to a match last season
Keita has been frozen out after choosing not to travel for a clash against Bayer Leverkusen after learning he would not start the match
Bremen then lost 5-0 as Xabi Alonso’s side secured their first ever Bundesliga title
German exhaust Image reported that Keita then apologized to his teammates in their group chat.
He wrote: ‘What I did may seem 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 field 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 behavior.
“We will not tolerate Naby’s behavior,” Fritz said in a statement at the time.
Before joining Bremen, the Guinea international spent five brilliant seasons at Liverpool
Keita won both the Premier League and Champions League before leaving Liverpool in 2023
‘He let his team down at a time of difficulty surrounding our recent form and availability of squads and placed his own interests above those of the team. We cannot allow that.’
Despite the incident appearing to sound the death knell for Keita’s time at Bremen, the Guinean international is reportedly determined to repair his relationship with the club.
“It is not my decision that I have to leave Bremen.” Keita told Bild.
‘For me it would be best to join 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 reports that I would collect the money and not 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 mend his relationship with Bremen and play for the club again
Jurgen Klopp paid £52 million to sign Keita from RB Leipzig after building 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 contract with Bremen expires in the summer of 2026.