Naby Keita suspended by Werder Bremen and barred from club facilities as ex-Liverpool star is hit with severe punishment for allegedly refusing to board team bus before Bayer Leverkusen game

In a campaign marred by several injuries, Keita has been able to make only five appearances for Werder in his debut season, having joined the club last summer as a free agent after leaving Liverpool. To add to his problems, Clemens Fritz, the sporting director of Werder Bremen, claimed that the midfielder opted not to board the team bus after learning that he would not be in the starting lineup during last weekend's clash against German champions Bayer Leverkusen.

Fritz had warned that Keita would face severe consequences for his defiant actions and in a statement released by the club on Tuesday it was confirmed that the player has been suspended until the end of the season. Moreover, the Guinea international must also pay a fine to the club for his alleged unprofessionalism.

The statement released by Werder Bremen read: "Werder Bremen officials have suspended Naby Keïta until the end of the season. In addition, the Green-Whites have imposed a significant fine on the midfielder. From now on, the 28-year-old will neither train with the team nor spend time in the professional dressing room."

Fritz further added: "Naby’s behaviour cannot be tolerated for us as a club. With this action, he let his team down in a tense sporting and personnel situation and placed himself above the team. We can't allow that. At this stage of the season, we need full focus on the remaining games and a team that is very close together. There was therefore no alternative to our measures."

Refuting these claims made by the club, Keita wrote in his Instagram story: "I have always tried to help the club and the great supporters, especially during this time of poor results. Since the start of my career, I have never had problems with my discipline and have always shown an exemplary attitude. I will not accept any person trying to tarnish my image. To the supporters, I would like you to know that in every training session, I fight so that I can make you happy every weekend. Training, and giving everything, these are the limits of my power. To my teammates, good luck for our match. Go Werder!"

Despite his promising start at Liverpool, where he joined from RB Leipzig in a £59 million deal, Keita failed to meet expectations during his five-year spell at the club. The change in pasture has not helped him regain his form and the latest accusations only add to a troubled spell in Germany.

Werder Bremen still have five Bundesliga games left to play this season, starting with a home fixture against Stuttgart on Sunday.