Despite high susceptibility to injury
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In the summer, Naby Keïta’s free transfer signing at Werder Bremen was celebrated as a transfer coup. Since then, disillusionment has set in, as the former Champions League winner with Liverpool FC has only been on the pitch for a total of 80 minutes in three short appearances for the green-whites. The 29-year-old midfield strategist has repeatedly been set back by injuries or, most recently, a stomach flu. At the beginning of the year he was also called off for the Africa Cup of Nations with Guinea. Despite his high susceptibility to injury and few minutes of play, the Hanseatic League is not thinking about an early separation in the summer.
“We plan with him as normal. We just sat with him and his advisor last week. He has signaled to us that he really wants to get fit,” explained Clemens Fritz, head of professional football and future managing director, to the club-affiliated portal “Dike room“ and emphasized: “We have no plans to give it away again in the summer. It’s not an issue for him at all.” According to reports, Keïta has a contract with the von der Weser club until 2026.
The right-footer also had to repeatedly struggle with injuries in Liverpool and has missed 53 games due to injury or illness since October 2020, 22 of them in the past season. There have been 17 games at Werder since his arrival. Its market value then fell further, first from 12 million to 9 million euros and in December to 6 million euros. On Wednesday he should start preparing with the team for Sunday’s duel at TSG Hoffenheim and could return to the squad.
“It was agreed with Naby that after his long-term absence due to the gastrointestinal illness, an intensive session made more sense than perhaps only being used for a short time,” said Fritz about Keïta’s exclusion last weekend. “It’s still about getting him in top shape for the games. That’s our turn.” He last played for Bremen on October 7th.
Keïta gave up a lot of money for Werder, but should still be able to earn between 1.5 million and 2.5 million euros a year. In addition to another rumored 3 million euros in earnest money, he also secured a share in a resale. In comparison: At the Reds he is said to have received a gross annual salary of around 7.3 million euros.
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