Liverpool star Naby Keita risks wrath of Jurgen Klopp over African Nations Cup promise
NABY KEITA faces the wrath of Jurgen Klopp by risking his recovery to play in the African Cup of Nations.
The Guinea midfielder admits he is not fully fit after damaging his groin against Barcelona on May 2.
The original assessment of the injury was that he would be out for at least two months and could even miss the start of next season.
But Keita has promised his international boss Paul Put that he plans to play in a friendly against Egypt this Sunday.
That statement will set alarm bells ringing at Liverpool as a club v country war looms.
Having flown in to join Guinea on Monday night the £52.75m star said: “I am hoping to start work now even though I am not 100 per cent fit.
“But when I was in Liverpool I had already started training with the ball.
“Upon my arrival here, I am going to train with the team to see what’s next.
"I would like to assure the fans, my team-mates and the coach that I should be ready for Guinea’s first match.
“I am 100 per cent motivated."
We don't want to keep a player out if he can play
While he made faster progress than expected following the injury picked up in the Champions League semi-final first leg Klopp still believed Keita’s chances of playing for Guinea this summer were unrealistic.
He stressed “I know about the issues with Guinea and stuff like that.
“We don't want to keep a player out if he can play - maybe they think it is like this, but it is not like this.
“For me, it would be good if Naby would be 100 per cent fit and could play the Africa Cup of Nations, to be honest.”
KLOPP FEARS KEITA IS NOT 100 PER CENT FIT
But the Kop manager also warned: “If he is not 100 per cent fit, he cannot play.
“That's how it is.”
Guinea coach Put admits he forced Liverpool to allow the 24-year-old to join his squad.
And he says Keita has now told him he is ready to play.
The Belgian said: “Keita leaves Liverpool after training in the morning and arrives Monday evening.
“I put a lot of pressure on Liverpool to send him as soon as possible.
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“In the end, I said that if Naby does not come now, it will be difficult to put him on the list for Africa Cup of Nations.
“He said he will play against Egypt.”
Following that warm-up game Guinea play Benin in another before kicking off Group B against Madagascar on June 22 and then clashes against Burundi and Nigeria.