Seydou Keita has made it clear that he harbors no intention of forgiving Pepe, stemming from a deeply personal and painful incident dating back to a 2011 El Clásico. During that match, Keita claims the Real Madrid defender called him a “monkey”—a racist slur that he says cut too deep to be forgotten or forgiven.
Their long-standing tension resurfaced during a friendly match in the United States, where Keita, now with AS Roma, refused to shake Pepe’s hand during the pre-match rituals. The refusal escalated into a confrontation when Keita threw a bottle of water in Pepe’s direction. The incident nearly resulted in a brawl.
In an interview with Radio France International (RFI), Keita explained his actions:
“When I played for Barça, he called me a monkey. I didn’t talk about it in public because he’s not worth it. That’s why I didn’t want to shake his hand. I don’t see why I would do it, since in his eyes I’m not a human being.”
He further added:
“I don’t want to have a discussion with someone who doesn’t consider me a human being. His behavior is unacceptable. Instead of asking me why I refused to shake his hand, he preferred to spit on me.”
While Keita regrets getting carried away during the incident, he remains firm in his stance and doesn’t intend to reconcile. However, he clarified that he does not generalize Pepe’s behavior to others, indicating this was a personal issue between them, not reflective of broader sentiments.
This confrontation underscores the ongoing struggle against racism in football, and Keita’s decision to speak out highlights the lasting impact such slurs can have on players, even years after the incident.
