ON-LOAN Birmingham left-back Cheick Keita has denied he was behind the wheel when his Mercedes allegedly hit a 12-year-old girl.
Reports in Italy say the Bologna defender’s Mercedes collided with a young girl after training.
Gazzetta dello Sport claim that his car hit a young girl as he left training.
Keita’s car allegedly thencarried on and then proceeded to hit a van — before returning to the scene of the incident around 15 minutes later.
But Keita, 21, said he lent the car to friends and wasn’t driving, according to widespread reports in Italy.
The girl was taken to hospital with injuries that were not life threatening.
The report claims witnesses described the former Birmingham player’s Mercedes to the police when questioned over the incident.
It also adds that the local authorities are now attempting to understand who was driving the vehicle.
most read in football
Paris-born Keita start was part of Monaco’s academy before moving to Serie B side Virtus Entella, where he made his professional debut in 2015.
After two seasons, he was brought to Birmingham by former boss Gianfranco Zola.
But he made just 11 appearances with Championship side before being loaned out to Bologna in the summer, where he has been included in just one matchday squad — without playing.
Keita has never been capped by Mali, but has played for their U20s side.
Leave a comment