Naby Keita Hits Back at Werder Bremen After Seeing Just 26 Minutes of Action in 2024

• Nabi Keita has refuted claims by Werder Bremen that he failed to get on the bus for the Leverkusen game
• The Guinean international has continued to struggle with a lack of playing time since returning to Germany
• Keita has only managed to play 106 minutes since arriving from English Premier League club, Liverpool FC

Former Liverpool star, Naby Keita, has released a statement as he continues to struggle with playing time at German club Werder Bremen.

The Guinean international was heavily criticized by the club for refusing to play against Bayer Leverkusen over the weekend.

Since his return to Germany in the summer of 2023, Keita has only played a total of 106 minutes for the club, with his only start coming in October.

In 2024, he has only played 26 minutes of action. For some of the year, he was at AFCON, and for part of it, he has been injured.

The biggest World Cup snubs: A list of footballers left out of their countries’ World Cup squad

Football

The 29-year-old has now responded to those claims after he refused to get on the team bus to their game against Bayer Leverkusen.

He was named on the bench for the trip against Xabi Alonso's side but failed to join his teammates for the match according to sporting director Clemens Fritz.

Fritz was credited with a statement, saying:

"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."

Keita has now refuted those claims, sharing his own side of the story via his social media handle. He wrote, as per Liverpool.com:

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

Chelsea 2:2 Arsenal: Blues Fans Blame Robert Sanchez After Letting Two Goal Lead Slip

Football

Bayer Leverkusen dethrone Bayern Munich

Sports Brief earlier reported that Bayer Leverkusen's extraordinary season reached its climax on Sunday, April 14, as the Black and Reds triumphed over Werder Bremen to secure the 2023–24 Bundesliga title with five games remaining.

Powered by an almost miraculous unbeaten streak across all competitions, Xabi Alonso's charges clinched the German championship for the first time in the club's history.

Along the way, they established a new Bundesliga record by remaining undefeated in 29 consecutive games from the beginning of the season.