A current RB Leipzig team-mate of Naby Keita has described the Anfield-bound midfielder as ‘the best I’ve played with’ and says Liverpool made a shrewd move agreeing a deal for the Guinean last summer, as he would have had his pick of big clubs at the end of this season.
Speaking on "Sat Af" on tv3sport.dk, Danish international Yussuf Poulsen was glowing in his praise of Keita. “He's the best player I've ever played with,” he said. “He is insane."
High praise indeed, particularly from a man who plays his international football alongside Tottenham star Christian Erikssen.
Initially Liverpool thought their chances of landing Keita were around 50 percent, akin to what you'd get when using your starspins promo code, but Leipzig proved steadfast in their resolve and refused to allow their prize asset to leave last summer. The Reds took the somewhat unusual step of agreeing a compromise deal which allowed Keita to remain in Germany for one more season before moving to Merseyside in the summer of 2018.
A shrewd move according to Poulsen, who explained: "Liverpool are lucky to have got him because if they'd waited until the summer he would have gone to an even bigger club.”
Having sold Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona this month, Jurgen Klopp attempted to bring forward Keita’s arrival but Leipzig were again reluctant to lose their star man and a suitable compensation agreement could not be reached, meaning that barring an unexpected turn of events before the end of this month Keita will remain a Leipzig player until the summer.
While that was bad news for the Reds, who now look a little short of drive and creativity in the middle of the park, it was a boost for Poulsen and the rest of Keita’s Leipzig team-mates as they look to secure Champions League qualification while also chasing Europa League success.
”I rate him very highly," Poulsen continued. "I've played with him for about a year and a half now. You can't take the ball off him. In training or during games. He plays like he's playing in the yard.
“He's physically strong, quick, such good technique. You can't take the ball off him. If he's decided that he's going past you he'll go past you. Nothing you can do."
While this bodes well for Liverpool's prospects next season, it remains a source of frustration that the Reds were unable to bring Keita in this month to help fill the void left by Coutinho.
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Keita "best I've played with" says Leipzig team-mate
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