Naby Keita

Naby Keita
Image from: freelargeimages.com

Naby Deco Keita





Current Club: Liverpool.

Previous Clubs: RB Leipzig, RB Salzburg, FC Istres, Horoya AC.

Loan Clubs: N/A.





International: Guinea 29 appearances 5 goals.

Trophies Won: Austrian Bundesliga 2014/15, 2015/16. Austrian Cup 2014/15, 2015/16. Bundesliga Player of the Year 2015/16. Guinea Footballer of the Year 2015.





A lot of people compare Keita to N'Golo Kante, because they both have the same busy, run-around, helter skelter style, though they have a totally different type of game, playing in different areas of the pitch in the main. While both nominally central midfielders, Kante's main game is about breaking up play, with a secondary ability to pick a pass and drive forward with the ball at pace. Keita, on the other hand is the opposite way around.



While Keita has energy and a good work ethic to chase down the ball, most of his energy is preserved for what he does when his team has the ball. He makes driving runs at the penalty area looking to shoot or play in a team-mate in a good position. Keita loves to dribble at the opposition. He draws in opponents to create space for others and has the vision to pick out the killer pass when it is on. He loves to play that killer pass.



Keita's strengths are built around moving with pace with the ball at his feet, picking killer passes and being a goal threat himself. That is not to say he does not do his work defensively, it is just that it is secondary to his contribution to the team, his primary role is creating and taking chances. He does offer good energy and workrate defensively, he will track back and make challenges, in fact he is very good at that role.



At his best he needs to be given freedom to go forward at will, rather than hampering him and holding him back in front of the defence. Unlike Kante, Keita will not protect a back four all alone, he does need a covering player besides or behind him, to provide the protection for the defence, while he helps rather than being the focus of that defence.



Updated profile requested by praveenlfc