Former Liverpool and RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keïta played a key role in Ferencváros‘ 1-1 draw against Fenerbahçe in istanbul on Wednesday, bolstering his case for a permanent move to the Hungarian club [[3]]. The 30-year-old, currently on loan from werder Bremen [[1]], has revitalized his career with the Hungarian side and now faces a pivotal winter transfer window as he considers his long-term future.Following the match, Keïta addressed his form and his affection for the club amidst speculation surrounding his future with Ferencváros.
Naby Keita, the Guinean midfielder for Ferencváros who previously won the Champions League with Liverpool, delivered a strong performance in a hard-fought draw, and afterward spoke about the electric atmosphere in Istanbul.
Photo: AHMET OKATALI / ANADOLU
Will Naby Keita Stay at Ferencváros?
“We came here to win the match, but we can still be happy with a point. We played against a very good team, a really good team, but we showed that we can compete with them. The atmosphere? It was crazy, truly crazy. I love this kind of pressure, I love these kinds of matches.”
The 30-year-old Keita believes he isn’t yet at his peak, but is steadily improving his form day by day. “The team’s performance is the most important thing, but I’m also trying to get back to my best. The others are helping me, but I know I need to do more. This was a normal match for me – that’s what I expect from myself, and that’s what I’m working hard for.”
The winter transfer window could be decisive for his future, as his loan deal expires. Both the Ferencváros leadership and the fans would likely be keen to keep him.
I like the president and Tamás Hajnal too, he came to get me in Bremen. I also really like Budapest and the fans. But this is football. They helped me a lot, and I know that. But I can’t say anything right now. We’ll see what happens. I really love the team.
– Keita stated, adding that a permanent move isn’t out of the question, especially if Ferencváros continues to provide him with these kinds of high-stakes European nights.
Zachariassen Laments Missed Opportunities
One of Ferencváros’ standout performers was Kristoffer Zachariassen, who played until substituted, and felt the match suited his style perfectly. “The plan was to put pressure on them, we knew it would be a very difficult match, especially without the ball. We knew how well they handle the ball, so we had to play with focus and organization throughout. Robbie (Keane) asked us to stay together, compactly, and work for each other. I think everyone showed that to the maximum today.”
Zachariassen believes Ferencváros was solid defensively and created several good chances in attack. The shot statistics showed Fenerbahce with 19 attempts, six on target, while Ferencváros had one goal from five shots.
