Ex-Liverpool star reveals message to team-mates after going on strike and being suspended

Naby Keita issued an apology on WhatsApp chat after he refused to play for the team.

The ex- man refused to board the team bus prior to a clash with Bayer Leverkusen back in April, which the team went on lose 5-0. The Guinean was left fuming that Ole Werner hadn't selected him for the starting XI and instead returned home.

Keita moved to the Bundesliga outfit in 2023 once his contract expired at Anfield and, following his error of judgement, apologised to his team-mates, as per , as he looks to prove his commitment once again.

He said: "What I did may look like I let the team down just before an important match. I would like to apologise to my team-mates 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."

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After Keita went on strike he was immediately suspended and forced to train with the U23s as Werder Bremen's sporting director Clemens Fritz made it clear the club would not accept his behaviour.

He said in a statement: "We won't tolerate Naby's behaviour. 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."

Keita, despite his antics, is determined to revive his career with the German club. He has a contract for several more years and has confessed that his decision to turn his back on the team was ill-judged.

He said: "It is not my decision that I should leave Bremen. 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."

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