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Naby Keita reveals Liverpool contract option as 'frustrated' claim made

Naby Keïta of Guinea looks on during the match against France at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de Nice on July 27 2024
-Credit: (Image: Stuart Franklin - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)


Naby Keita believes he is still being shown "a lot of love" from Liverpool supporters and explained why he turned down the opportunity to extend his stay at Anfield. Keita left the Reds last summer for Bundesliga side Werder Bremen on a free transfer having been bought for £52.75million from RB Leipzig in July 2018.

Despite spending five years at the club, constant injury setbacks and loss of form restricted him to just 129 appearances.

Nevertheless, Keita still claimed Premier League and Champions League winners' medals and started the successful Club World Cup final in 2019 and the FA Cup and League Cup finals in 2022.

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And Keita has revealed that while his time at the club was tinged with frustration, he is still warmly received by Liverpool supporters.

“The Liverpool fans have given me a lot of love,” he said. “Even today, wherever I meet them, they show me the same love. They’re the best fans in the world. Liverpool is a family and you never walk alone.

"My aim was to fulfil my childhood dream of winning titles. Winning the Premier League after 30 years, winning the Champions League – these are incredible moments that I can’t forget. We won a lot of trophies and we were able to make our fans happy. That was the most important thing.

"This team was hungry. We were lucky to have Jurgen Klopp to push us to give our best on the pitch. He’s a fantastic coach and he was the strength of this group.”

Of his injury issues, Keita added: “It was tough mentally, of course. I was the first to get frustrated. I wanted to play every game but unfortunately I had a lot of injuries that prevented me from giving more than I did.

"But that’s the life of a footballer. I did everything I could to be there for the team at all times, but unfortunately injuries are part of our job.”

In an extensive interview with The Guardian, Keita - who is currently training with the Bremen under-23 squad after a controversial fall-out over discipline in April having barely featured last season - has also claimed he could have signed a new deal at Anfield.

“I had the option of extending my stay at Liverpool but, after five years, I wanted to get more playing time elsewhere,” said the Guinea international, who had talks with Sunderland in the summer. “I had several offers but I decided to sign for Bremen because Germany is a country I already know.

"If I wanted the money, I would have chosen to sign somewhere other than Bremen. Here, all that motivated me was to have the opportunity to play every weekend, enjoy myself and give pleasure. Unfortunately, things haven’t gone according to plan.”