RB Leipzig training CANCELLED by furious boss after Liverpool target Naby Keita crocks teammate with horror tackle
Wantaway Guinea star leaves Diego Demme writhing in pain after X-rated tackle
Wantaway Guinea star leaves Diego Demme writhing in pain after X-rated tackle
NABY KEITA’S frustration at not being allowed to join Liverpool seemed to boil over on Monday as he left a team-mate writhing in pain following a brutal challenge.
The star’s challenge on Diego Demma actually forced RB Leipzig boss Ralph Hasenhuttl to CANCEL the training session.
Jurgen Klopp has been chasing the Guinea international all summer.
The Premier League side have had three bids of up to £6million rejected for the midfield destroyer by the Bundesliga outfit.
Keita, 22, is believed to be desperate to be allowed to move to Anfield – but his club are playing hardball as they attempt to keep hold of their prized-asset.
And his anger at not being allowed to join Liverpool might just have come to the surface at the club’s training camp in Seefeld.
He produced a brutal tackle on his colleague towards the end of the session to leave Demme screaming in agony.
The 25-year-old victim was then carried off the pitch with a bandage around his right knee.
Video footage shows see Keita first fall to the ground after a challenge from Demme during a training match.
The diminutive midfield man then stuns his colleagues as he produced a horror two-footed lunge, apparently in retaliation.
Keita is then pushed away by team-mates as Demme writhes in pain on the ground.
Manager Hasenhuttl was said to be seething and called an early end to the practice and ordered the squad back to the hotel.
Of course, there is no suggestion that Keita’s X-rated tackle was intentional and designed to hurt Demme.
But it will do little to ease the tensions between him and his coach.
Leipzig have still yet to confirm the severity of the injury.
Despite the pressure from Liverpool, the German side are determined to hang on to the ace.
Their sporting director Ralf Rangnick said: "We will not leave a regular player in the summer."
Unless they change their stance then Liverpool will wait until next summer to make their move again.
A clause in his contract stipulates that he can leave for £48m in 12 months time.
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