Former Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita has paid tribute to Reds supporters as he called them “the best fans in the world” as he reflected on his five-year stint with the club.
The Guinean star arrived at Anfield to significant fanfare for a then-club record fee of $65.3 million after impressing during his time with RB Leipzig. He made 129 appearances during his time on Merseyside but he struggled to completely establish himself as a regular fixture in Jurgen Klopp’s first XI.
While injuries hampered his time with Liverpool, he did depart for Werder Bremen in 2023 as a Champions League and Premier League winner. Now, Keita has reflected on his time with the Reds as he spoke in glowing terms about the support he received from the Kop faithful throughout his spell.
Speaking to the Guardian, the 29-year-old revealed the that he still receives a warm reception from Liverpool fans around the world following his departure. He said: “The Liverpool fans have given me a lot of love. Even today, wherever I meet them, they show me the same love. They’re the best fans in the world.”
He continued in praise of Klopp: “This team was hungry. We wanted to win every game and 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.”
Having experienced mixed fortunes during his stint at Anfield, Keita admitted that he was left “frustrated” at points amid a struggle with injuries. The midfielder missed the Champions League final in his first year with the club after being ruled out, while he played just 18 times as the club lifted the Premier League title in the following season.
He confessed: “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.”
Having left the Reds for a new chapter with Bremen ahead of the 2023-24 season, the move failed to reignite his career as he made just five appearances in his first term. Looking back over how he has fared so far back in Germany, he said: “I had the option of extending my stay at Liverpool but, after five years, I wanted to get more playing time elsewhere.
“I had several offers but I decided to sign for Bremen because Germany is a country I already know. I was also convinced by what the coach and management at Bremen had to say. I just wanted to play football, to be out on the pitch, making passes and scoring goals.”