Ancelotti weighs in on Naby Keita debate & reveals he tried to hijack deal

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This is very interesting and a stark reminder to Liverpool fans who are running out of patience with Naby Keita.

The Guinean finally arrived at the club in summer 2018, after we’d agreed a deal a year previously with Rb Leipzig, for whom he had wowed for in Germany.

As a result, expectation was enormous, especially after Keita excelled on full debut against West Ham on Premier League opening day.

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His form has been mightily inconsistent though – to the point Jurgen Klopp doesn’t regularly select him in our starting XI.

Ancelotti, currently manager of Napoli, who we played in the Champions League, has explained how during his time in charge of Bayern Munich, he did all he could to buy Keita – a player he described as ‘incredible’.

“I wanted to sign him at Bayern Munich and Rummenigge said I could meet him here in Naples,” Ancelotti told Corriere Dello Sport.

“He was incredible at Leipzig. In Liverpool, he has highs and lows.”

“Is Keita exactly the same player as he was at Leigzig? No.”

The Keita situation is difficult. Liverpool are four points clear at the top of the table, so it’s not a problem which is necessarily affecting us too badly – although it would be nice if arguably our most talented midfielder was actually contributing.

He doesn’t play with the confidence he exuded in in the Bundesliga, partly because he isn’t in the same position – and also because he doesn’t seem to have adapted to the pace or physicality of English football.

We have high hopes, but are beginning to accept it could be next season before we see Keita at his best.

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