Former Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita says his injuries are behind him as he looks to help guide Werder Bremen to success.
The Guinean saw out his contract with the Reds and became a free agent in July. Prior to the expiry of his deal, he was unveiled as a Bremen player and reports in Germany claimed the midfielder had taken a massive pay-cut to join the Bundesliga outfit.
Keita arrived at Anfield from RB Leipzig in 2018 but his career on Merseyside was hampered by injuries. His final season with Jurgen Klopp's side saw he muster just 13 appearances and three starts in the Premier League.
His career with the six-time European Cup winners fizzled out as he didn't feature again after the stalemate against Crystal Palace in late February.
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He joined up with his new Bundesliga side this week after embarking on international duty with Guinea. After his time on the treatment table decimated his involvement with the Reds, Keita emphasises that his troubles are behind him as he looks to help Bremen move forward.
"The injuries are behind me and I'm concentrating on my new team and not on what's in the past," he said in an interview with the official Werder Bremen website. "I'm ready for the new task and I think we can have a good Bundesliga season together."
Following his move to the Weserstadion, the 28-year-old acknowledged the possible surprise that he made to move back to the Bundesliga after five years.
"I understand that many people are wondering why I am making the move from Liverpool FC to Werder Bremen," Keita told Werder TV. “When I spoke to the coach and the sporting director, they told me about the club’s project.
"After that, I thought about it a lot, with my family too. In the end, I had to make a decision and I chose Werder Bremen. I am very happy with this decision and will give everything to the team in the coming season.
"Before, I was on the other side, now I’m part of Werder Bremen. I don’t like to talk about myself that much. I’m sure there will be some who don’t give Werder a lot of credit, but I’m looking forward to the task ahead.
"I’ve watched videos of Werder and think that if I can bring my quality to the team, we will be successful next season. I firmly believe in the capabilities of this team."
