Keita faces a ban after refusing to join the Bremen squad

Former Liverpool star Naby Keita could be banned from his current club Werder Bremen after he refused to be part of the squad for Sunday's Bundesliga game at champions Bayer Leverkusen.

The player refused to board the team bus after being told he would not be in the starting team despite several players missing. That's why he skipped the trip to Leverkusen, where Bremen was defeated 5-0 and the hosts were crowned Bundesliga champions.

Bremen said it would issue a statement on the incident later on Monday.

“This action says it all, I don’t have to say anything more. Everyone can form their own opinion, I have formed mine,” said coach Ole Werner after the game. Keita will likely be suspended.

“We will talk to him and his advisor tomorrow about the consequences and the next steps,” Bremen’s football director Clemens Fritz said before the game.

Keita said on Instagram that he had always worked “selflessly and professionally.”

“Since the beginning of my career, I have never had problems with discipline wherever I have been and I have always tried to be a role model. Therefore, I will not accept anyone who tarnishes this image,” he wrote.

Keita came to Bremen last summer in a top transfer that caused a lot of excitement. However, due to several injuries, the midfielder was unable to meet expectations and only played five games in the Bundesliga. His contract runs until 2026.