Naby Keita will be Liverpool-bound at the end of the season.
Had things worked out differently a few months ago, he might already be plying his trade at Anfield. Instead, current club RB Leipzig rejected a couple of bids from Liverpool, making it clear they had no intention of letting the midfielder leave.
At about that time, you may recall how footage emerged of Keita – reportedly frustrated at having to stick around at Leipzig – clattering into a teammate during a preseason training camp in Austria. Although that particular incident was later downplayed, Keita has followed it by collecting three red cards in the early weeks of the season, the latest of which coming on Wednesday night against Bayern Munich.
On this occasion, Keita, already in the book, was shown a second yellow for a foul on Robert Lewandowski.
Naby Keita is sent off for RB Leipzig against Bayern — making it three reds for club and country in seven games! pic.twitter.com/sL0RFCmhzW
— GOAL (@goal) October 25, 2017
To some, it was a sign he was looking forward to his big move a little too much…
I see Naby Keita has taken being a Red all too seriously.
— Urshanabi (@RandomBroodings) October 25, 2017
Naby Keita seems to love the colour red. 😏🔴
— DS8 🇭🇺 (@SzoboszlaiRole) October 25, 2017
While others preferred to take a swipe at their rivals…
https://twitter.com/lfc_riley/status/923279860340002818
There was also this theory, that Keita might simply be saving himself for Liverpool through a series of suspensions…
https://twitter.com/CallMeMubzy/status/923279066849005570
Big fan of Keita getting himself sent off to avoid injury & stay fresh for next season.
— Red (@TaintlessRed) October 25, 2017
As well as this, there was also the (slightly more serious) sense that Keita may need to sort out his disciplinary woes before he lands at Liverpool John Lennon airport in a few months time…
