From the fast lane of Europe’s elite to avoiding automobiles on the streets of Guinea.
He spins away from two markers and darts towards the stones that act as the goal, the homemade ball magnetically drawn to his bare feet. He gets yanked from behind by the hand-me-down kit that drowns his tout petit frame, but he brushes it off and keeps on.
The real test then arises. The child, who is still under the age of ten, takes a hard blow to the back and checks to make sure he still has possession before firing. As he celebrates his goal, a youthful Naby Keita glances quickly at the car that was impeding his progress.
The midfielder exclusively tells Goal, “This was a normal kind of game,” recalling his football-crazed upbringing in Koleya, a neighbourhood in Conakry, the capital of Guinea.
“We used to play in the open spaces, which were frequently on the streets, where we had to avoid the cars!”I never wanted to relinquish possession, therefore even though I was bumped a lot, I persisted. I learnt a great deal from my experiences on the street, and nothing could keep me away from the ball.
“We used whatever we had and I would sometimes play with old, broken shoes,” Keita said after making it into the 2017 Goal 50. The complete list of the top 50 players in the world for the previous year will be unveiled on Tuesday, November 14.
“I didn’t have the special football clothes that were supplied to me or footwear. As a professional, all of that has helped me be more ready for anything, and I also no longer have any fear on the pitch.
Since I was small, I had to battle for everything, including the opportunity to play, the ball, and respect, and as a result, I was unstoppable by cars. That’s where my game’s ferocity originates, which is crucial for my position.
Le roi de la rue, or King of the Street, from Conakry is currently the most expensive African football player in history. Liverpool paid a premium and fulfilled a £48 million clause in the RB Leipzig star’s contract this summer to guarantee his services starting on July 1, 2018. Though his rise to the top of the game started when he was a toddler, the move has been planned out since the concept of becoming a professional became clear to him in his teenage years.
Keita’s mother Miriam Camara would have to take things off of his feet as soon as he was able to walk. He laughs as he adds, “She told me that anything that would fall from the table, whether it was a bottle of water or an orange, I would dribble with it.”
“I would use anything on the floor that I could kick to amuse myself.” This is what I would do, wherever she took me.
Sekou Keita, his father, feels that Naby’s fate was predetermined long before that. “My father informed me that I adored the ball as a baby—both to touch and to stare at it. I’ve always wanted it close by.
The parents of the 22-year-old attempted to steer their son in a different direction, even though they both believed it was inevitable that their son would desire to play football. They desired that I study, Keita remembers. “They believed that education was more stable and significant, but for me, football was the only option.
“They kept trying, but they were able to see where my heart and head were. My parents eventually informed me they knew I had a particular skill and would totally back my desire after hearing everyone in the community tell them I’m the best player in Conakry.
The most expensive African football player in history is now Conakry’s “King of the Street,” or Le Roi de la rue. The RB Leipzig star’s contract had a £48 million clause that Liverpool completed this summer in order to secure his services beginning on July 1, 2018. Even though he began his ascent to the top of the game when he was only a toddler, the move has been planned since he realised in his teenage years that he wanted to become a professional.
As soon as Keita could walk, his mother Miriam Camara would have to remove items from his feet. He giggles as he continues, “She told me that anything that would fall from the table, whether it was a bottle of water or an orange, I would dribble with it.”
“I would use anything on the floor that I could kick to amuse myself.” No matter where she transported me, this is what I would do.
His father, Sekou Keita, believes that Naby’s destiny was decided long before it. “My father told me that when I was a baby, I loved the ball, and I would touch it and look at it.” It’s always been close to my heart.
Though they both thought their kid would eventually want to play football, the 22-year-old’s parents tried to lead their son in a different route. Keita recalls that they wanted me to study. “They thought schooling was more important and stable, but football was the only thing that would work for me.
“They persisted in their attempts, but they were able to locate my head and heart. My parents eventually told me that after hearing everyone in the community tell them I’m the best player in Conakry, they recognised I had a special talent and would support me wholeheartedly.
Arpinon swiftly figured it would be tough to keep the aptitude of their new acquisition hidden, and while Ligue 1 teams were scared to gamble on the little player with a large ceiling, Gerard Houllier was convinced he’d take off at Red Bull Salzburg.
Then the Head of Global Football for the energy drink’s stable of clubs, and now still an advisor, the former Liverpool manager discussed Keita with Ralf Rangnick, who was the sporting director for the Austrian outfit before assuming the same role at Leipzig.
The pair watched the Guinea international represent his country in a friendly against Mali on May 25, 2014 in France and Houllier sold him on Salzburg’s commitment to development.
Before coming to Southampton, Keita signed a five-year contract that summer with Die Roten Bullen, where Sadio Mane gave him invaluable advice.
Keita says, “It was very frustrating at first that I wasn’t starting.” It bothered me and made the transition period more difficult. “My little brother, stay calm,” Sadio retorted. You’re going to seize the opportunity when it presents itself.He was incredibly helpful in helping me grasp the language, the club, and the city. He was correct, of course. Everything went much more smoothly after I was added to the team and I demonstrated my abilities.
“Salzburg improved me as a player and I learnt so much there, I got a really tactical education. Sadio was important for me, he still is! To me, he’s my big brother. He really likes to learn new things, to improve and to push himself and we are the same in this way. He’s a good example for me.”
Mane, three years Keita’s senior and also represented by Arena11 sports group, still feels protective over the Guinean and watches his games at every opportunity – either live or via highlights.
“He is a really special player and is like family to me,” the Liverpool speedster says. “We were close at Salzburg and still keep in touch. I enjoy watching him and look forward to helping him again when he comes next year.
“He asked me about Liverpool and I told him this is an amazing club with talented players, a great manager and lots of ambition. The city and the people are really nice and he will feel at home here.”
Next summer will not mark the first time Keita pulls on a Liverpool kit.
“My pals and I used to pick out the shirts we would get for our squad when I was about eleven or twelve. Because my father nicknamed me Deco as he thought I played like him, I wanted us to get the Barcelona strip – they were my favourite.
But we chose Liverpool since many of my friends were fans, and I also thought the team was great. None of them, or at least not one that I could truly picture, made me believe that when I grew up, I would actually be a real Liverpool fan and represent the real Liverpool.
One well-known individual, outside of his kickabout circle, kept bringing up Keita’s upcoming club.
He says, “My father is a big fan!” He has been discussing them for as long as I can remember. He was obsessed with them when I was a child, before I ever knew what Liverpool was.
Naturally, he was thrilled to learn of their interest and to finalise the agreement for the upcoming season. He desired to discuss Steven Gerrard, Istanbul, and every other significant match or player for the team.
But Keita isn’t considering starting for Jurgen Klopp just yet. He declares, “I have a lot left to accomplish in this campaign with Leipzig, and my entire focus is on them.” “The club has been beneficial to me, and I’ve developed a lot with them. For me, moving to Leipzig from Salzburg was fantastic, and I’ve advanced. We had a memorable season last year, playing fantastic football and earning a second-place finish in the Bundesliga to experience the Champions League for the first time.
“I used to watch Xabi Alonso in the Champions League and Premier League when I was in Guinea and last season I got to play against him in midfield before he retired. When I think about things like this, it reminds me of how blessed I am, but also of how hard I’ve worked and far I’ve come. However, this is just the beginning; I never feel content or at ease.When the CAF African Footballer of the Year nominee returns home, he is greeted with more reminders of his achievements as well as greater inspiration to push on.
“When I go back to Conakry, there are still children playing on the street without shoes, dodging the cars. I always buy boots when I’m back for as many kids as I can because I know how much it can mean to have something so simple. Guinea has such a great deal of skill and aptitude; it makes me proud.
Not everything at the homecoming is precisely the same.I wanted to be Deco, Titi Camara or Pascal Feindouno when I was young, and now there are kids with my name on the back of their shirts! That is such a big motivation for me and I hope I continue to show them that with courage and determination, they can achieve anything.
“It doesn’t matter how poor you are, or where you’re from, if you are willing to make sacrifices, willing to work hard and to never stop fighting for your dreams, you can make them happen.”
Keita’s life has changed so much in such a short period of time, but certain things never change. He states, “My mother is here; she visits me every three months and stays with me for a while.”
She is still my rock, even if she doesn’t have to yell at me anymore for kicking stuff around. Without my family, I am nothing, and I will always remember my roots, no matter what.
Keita used to be the player to watch in the Bundesliga, but this season it seems like the one to aim for. The No. 8 recently collected three red cards in a 39-day span, but Leipzig coach Ralph Hasenhuttl is unconcerned because his player is “often provoked.” The fact that he is now being targeted demonstrates Keita’s rising prominence and how important the opposition views him.
It’s unlikely that his influence will lessen very soon. “Winning is what I want.” I only want to get stronger and better. For me, this is just the beginning,” Keita says with a sly smile. “What good is it to not aim for the top now that I’ve come this far?”