Many Liverpool fans have taken to Twitter to hail Naby Keita after a Merseyside journalist revealed how he had started pre-season training with his new club five days early.
Mirror correspondent David Maddock, who has covered the region for nearly two decades, explained on his personal account how the £53million new signing was put through his paces at the club’s Melwood headquarters on Wednesday with fitness coach Conall Murtagh even though his teammates do not return until next Monday.
Anyone wondering what type of player @LFC have signed in Naby Keita, had confirmation that the training session at Melwood today with fitness coach Conall Murtagh was at his own request. He's not due to start officially until July 2. #commitment pic.twitter.com/0SCHPINc5I
— David Maddock (@MaddockMirror) June 27, 2018
This revelation was met with delighted responses from supporters of the club, who pointed out how “hard work pays” and the “maestro” is going “to do us proud”.
Live 4 Liverpool has rounded up some of the best tweets:
Hard work pays,hoping he will be one of the best midfielder in the world, welcome to anfield
— Danny_Alonso_Anfield (@MwesigwaA) June 27, 2018
This man really wants to wear the shirt. He wanted the number 8, he’s going to do us proud, I’m sure of it. ???
— Steve (@surprisingmany) June 27, 2018
??
— n (@MacAIIister10) June 27, 2018
So many people don't realise what a baller this guy is, they'll soon find out though
— Escoshay (@LFCescoshay) June 27, 2018
@Andy_Mitchell1 Yes!! Even started early to get ready
— Sean Wren (@sean_wren) June 27, 2018
He didn’t say it defines him as a player. The lad has asked for extra training during the hottest week of the year, before he even needs to,
as opposed to sitting off in Ibiza/Dubai— MJR (@MJRMally) June 27, 2018
https://twitter.com/Tomato_sauce93/status/1012002339442610176
https://twitter.com/wriggo_pete/status/1011994591409659904
https://twitter.com/R3DS4LIF3/status/1011992839507599360
Captain in the making #LFC
— rimmer (@richie_rimmer) June 27, 2018
Love that
— Jay (@redtilldead26) June 27, 2018
Love him so much already
— Jon (@jontastic677) June 27, 2018
COMMENTARY
Little wonder the Anfield masses on Twitter are drooling. They were already excited enough about the long-awaited arrival of Keita, who agreed terms with Liverpool last August before remaining at RB Leipzig for another year. Supporters have high hopes for the midfielder, who has taken the number eight shirt once filled by club icon Steven Gerrard. He was pictured at the club’s Melwood headquarters yesterday after jetting in to begin life at his new club. With Guinea not competing in the World Cup, Keita’s decision to start putting the hard yards in early met withy a predictably ecstatic response on social media. His commitment and work ethic will surely only benefit him as he aims to make the adaptation period from the Bundesliga to the Premier League a relatively painless one.
