Naby Keita has earned a place in Liverpool history as one of the club’s greatest ‘what if’s’ having spent five years at the club following a £55m move from RB Leipzig.
The successor to Steven Gerrard’s legendary no. 8 shirt and one of the most expensive signings in Liverpool’s history, Keita failed to hit the heights many expected from the Guniea international after arriving from the Bundesliga in 2017 as one of the most exciting players in the division.
However, injuries, a lack of form and Jurgen Klopp’s preferences saw the midfielder become nothing more than a squad player, with Keita since moving on to Werder Bremen and his career take another hit having failed to adapt to his new club.
Yet another new chapter is about to begin for Keita in an unlikely place, with the former Liverpool man joining Hungarian giants Ferencvaros on loan, and fans have had their say on social media.
Liverpool fans surprised but supportive as Keita joins Ferencvaros
Keita to Ferencvaros is a transfer straight out of Football Manager, with the former Liverpool star joining the Hungarian giants for the remainder of the year in a bid to get his career back on track in a league where the 29-year-old could dominate.
With Ferencvaros also in the UEFA Europa League, Keita has a chance to compete against some top European players, with the Budapest-based side taking on PAOK, Eintracht Frankfurt and AZ Alkmaar in their final league phase games.
Indeed, Keita’s move to Ferencvaros has caught a lot of Liverpool fans by surprise on social media, and here is what some supporters had to say about the transfer…
One Liverpool fan wrote: “Never reached his peak… Truly a disappointing career trajectory.”
Another supporter posted on Twitter: “Imagine someone showing you this back in 2017.”
One Red supporter said: “Thats great move for Naby, a fresh start in Hungary could help him get back to his best.”
Whilst another Liverpool fan wrote: “Another player where you just wonder what it could have been. You be good, Nabi lad.”
How good was Keita really for Liverpool?
For one of Liverpool’s most expensive signings ever and a player who was billed to become the successor to Gerrard, it’s safe to say that Keita really didn’t live up to expectations at Anfield with the Reds.
| Naby Keita’s Liverpool stats | Games played | Goals | Assists |
| 2022/23 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021/22 | 40 | 4 | 3 |
| 2020/21 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019/20 | 27 | 4 | 3 |
| 2018/19 | 33 | 3 | 1 |
| Total | 129 | 11 | 7 |
Although Keita played a role in Liverpool winning the Premier League in the 2019/20 season and there were some bright sparks when the midfielder was fit, these moments were few and far between for the former Leipzig star.
Indeed, injuries and a lack of form plagued Keita’s time at Liverpool, and with the midfielder now having another chance to revive his career in Hungary, the former Bundesliga maestro will want to do all he can get his performance levels up.
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