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Liverpool transfer target Naby Keita was repeatedly turned down by European scouts before he finally got his big break.

Keita, who could become the most expensive signing in the Reds’ history, received a helping hand from former Celtic defender Bobo Balde prior to launching his career with French outfit FC Istres four years ago.

His drive and determination to reach the top has since propelled him to stardom, but the RB Leipzig midfielder remains shy, humble and totally dedicated to his profession.

Growing up in Conakry, the capital of Guinea, he was nicknamed ‘Deco’ after the legendary Portuguese midfielder and he’s become an icon in the West African country.

Amadou Makadji is a Belgium-based reporter for Guinea football website foot224.net. He knows Keita well and has covered his rise from prodigy to one of the most exciting young talents in European football.

What’s been the reaction in Guinea to Liverpool’s pursuit of Keita?

Guinea people love football but they rarely get the chance to see their players joining big clubs in Europe. They are so proud to know that a great team like Liverpool are trying to sign Naby Keita.

Before now, only a few Guinean players have had the chance to play for big clubs in Europe. Pablo Thiam (Bayern Munich), Titi Camara (Marseille, Liverpool), Bobo Balde (Celtic).

Some people talk about Paul Pogba but Guineans are more proud of Naby than the France international because Naby plays for the Guinea national team. Today everybody in Guinea wants to see Naby shining.

Keita grew up in the capital of Guinea. What was his childhood like? Does he still have family there?

Yes, he is from Conakry. He grew up like all the young boys in the city. He didn’t go to a football academy, he just used to play with his friends in the street. He wanted to be a great player from when he was very young.

(Image: / AFP / CELLOU BINANI (Photo credit should read CELLOU BINANI/AFP/Getty Images))

His family still live in Guinea. He returns when he can during the holidays. Sometimes his mother goes to Germany and stays with him for a while. He is living in Leipzig with his young brothers. Both of them have started playing in Leipzig.

What kind of personality is he?

He is shy and so humble. When he goes back for holidays, he is still with the same friends from when he was a child. He eats with them and they spend the whole day together talking about football. He always talks about football.

(Image: (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images))

He knows where he wants to go. I remember at the end of his last season at Salzburg, I went to Austria to watch the final of the cup that they won that year.

He told me with a smile that he will be a great player and will finish in one of the biggest clubs in the world. Today he is on a good road.

Was it always clear from a young age that he was destined to become a star?

In the Guinea league, he played for one team called Santoba FC. When he was young, he played in the same side as Napoli midfielder Amadou Diawara.

They used to call Naby ‘Titi Deco’ and Diawara ‘Titi Fabregas’. We are seeing now the talent people in Guinea saw in him back then.

In 2013 he was signed by FC Istres after being previously turned down by FC Lorient and Le Mans. How did his move to France come about?

Before signing for Istres, he came three or four times to Europe for trials, mainly in France, but he failed each time. Then in 2013, former Guinea and Celtic defender Bobo Balde organised a tournament in Marseille for Guinean young players. Istres saw him there and signed him directly. He played one season in the Second Division before signing a five-year contract in Austria.

After a successful spell at Salzburg he moved on to Leipzig last summer and lit up the Bundesliga with his performances. How would you describe him as a midfielder? What are his best qualities?

Former Guinea and PSG coach Luis Fernandez used to compare him to Iniesta.

Naby is a box to box midfielder. He has great ability with the ball. He has excellent vision and can create very important assists for strikers.

He can also play as a No 10. In his last season in Austria, he ended the season in this position and he scored more than 10 goals there.

Jurgen Klopp is clearly very keen to sign him. Is the chance to play for Klopp and test himself in the Premier League a big part of wanting to join Liverpool?

He wants to move to Liverpool. His aim is to finish in a top club in Europe. When Liverpool and especially Klopp needs you, it’s difficult to say no. The fact Liverpool will play in the Champions League next year is a big part of that because he really wants to play in this competition. If he can do that with a big club like Liverpool, it is always better.

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If Liverpool buy him, it would be for a massive fee - potentially as high as £70million. Would Keita be worth that? Do you think he would be able to handle the pressure of costing that much?

For the pressure of that price, I think that will let us know the kind of player he is. If he can’t play under this kind of pressure then he is just a normal player. But, really, I don’t think that will be a problem for him. He’s more than a normal player.

Naby is young and has great potential. I hope he will join Liverpool and realise big things at Anfield - things that Guinean players have never realised before.