Naby Keita did not travel with Werder Bremen for their match against Bayer Leverkusen, in which they suffered a 5-0 defeat. According to the club’s sporting director, Clemens Fritz, the Guinean international refused to board the bus after learning that he would not be in the starting lineup. Fritz stated, ‘After finding out yesterday that he would not be starting, Naby decided not to join the team for the match and returned home. We will discuss the consequences and next steps with him and his agent tomorrow.’
In response to the situation, Naby Keita released a statement on Monday, April 15th, clarifying his position with the club. He said, ‘I would like to address my situation with Werder Bremen. Since the day I signed for this great club, I have always worked selflessly and professionally. My only desire has been to help the club and bring joy to the many supporters, especially during a time when the results have not been as we would like. Throughout my career, I have never had any disciplinary issues wherever I have been, and I have always tried to be a role model. I will not allow anyone to tarnish this image. To the fans: I want you to know that I give my all in every training session to make you happy every weekend. Training hard and giving my best, those are the limits of my power. Come on, Werder! – Naby Keita.’
