Not fit at the start of the season
Werder’s top transfer Keita has been out for weeks
07/17/2023, 5:30 p.m
Naby Keita has already missed his debut at Werder Bremen due to injury. Now it’s clear that he got a harder time warming up before his debut against Oldenburg: the king’s transfer doesn’t make it in time for the start of the season.
Setback for Werder Bremen’s top signing Naby Keita: The ex-Liverpool player has to sit out for weeks in preparation and is likely to miss the start of the season. As his club announced, the 28-year-old midfielder suffered a muscular injury in the adductor area while warming up before the friendly against VfB Oldenburg (3-1).
At first, Keita himself and head coach Ole Werner assumed that the injury would be minor. “It’s extremely bitter for Naby and for us as a team,” Werner said after the diagnosis: “We’ll do everything we can to ensure that Naby gets fit again as soon as possible. But we have to assume that Naby won’t support us on the first few days will be available.”
The midfielder joined Liverpool on a free transfer, for whom he made 129 appearances in five years, scoring 11 goals. Keïta won the Champions League and the English championship with Liverpool. However, due to injuries, he never became a regular player. The ex-Leipzig native is also captain of the Guinea national team.
Despite his injury, Keita will go to the training camp in Zillertal. “We have optimal conditions there for his rehabilitation, and he can also integrate further into the team there,” said Werner. Werder will start the season on August 12th in the DFB-Pokal at Viktoria Köln. On August 18, Bayern Munich will come to the Weser Stadium for the start of the Bundesliga.