Dani Ceballos open to Real Madrid transfer exit but is keen to join one club over Arsenal - 7M sport

Dani Ceballos open to Real Madrid transfer exit but is keen to join one club over Arsenal

Dani Ceballos is now open to leaving Real Madrid for the good of his career but would prefer to join one club over Arsenal.


Posted Tuesday, March 31, 2020 by Express.co.uk

Dani Ceballos open to Real Madrid transfer exit but is keen to join one club over Arsenal
Dani Ceballos open to Real Madrid transfer exit but is keen to join one club over Arsenal (Image: GETTY)

On-loan Arsenal midfielder Dani Ceballos is open to leaving Real Madrid this summer - but the Gunners are not his first-choice destination according to reports. Ceballos has made 24 appearances in central midfield for the north London club, with only a muscle injury preventing him from building on that tally.

The 23-year-old has been impressive in the second half of the season both in and out of possession.

But there is no option for Arsenal to sign Ceballos permanently in the deal that took him to the Emirates for 12 months.

Mikel Arteta would no doubt love to try and recruit the midfielder permanently with the Spaniard having become a permanent fixture under him since his return from injury.

Ceballos initially moved to the Premier League for 12 months in order to play himself into Zinedine Zidane's plans.

But Estadio Deportivo claim that while Ceballos wants to be a success in Madrid, he is aware he needs to be playing regularly in 2020-21.

With Real open to selling him as they look to fund their summer transfer plans, Ceballos' ideal destination would be a return to Real Betis.

There will be extra competition in midfield at the Bernabeu with Martin Odegaard and Oscar Rodriguez, both also currently out on loan, potentially playing a role next term.

But Real also want to sign new players, with Zinedine Zidane keen on Paul Pogba while Fabian Ruiz and Donny Van de Beek are others strongly linked with Los Blancos.

And according to Estadio Deportivo, Ceballos is acutely aware of how important a season it will be.

That's with the coronavirus pandemic having pushed Euro 2020 back by 12 months, along with the Olympic Games.

Ceballos had spoken last year about his desire to play in both tournaments, insisting it was his "dream" to represent his country in their bid for a gold medal in Tokyo.

The box-to-box midfielder would therefore prefer to return to Real Betis, where he spent six seasons of his career before a move to Real in July 2017.

Ceballos made 105 appearances for Los Verdiblancos' first-team, scoring seven times and producing nine assists.

He was a key player in the Segunda Division title-winning team of 2014-15.

And a return to the Benito Villamarin Stadium would be Ceballos' preferred next move, presumably in the thinking that he would be a regular starter there under manager Rubi.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are keeping tabs on Betis attacking midfielder Nabil Fekir as they look at possible replacements for Ceballos according to the Daily Star.

Fekir has seven goals and six assists in just 22 La Liga appearances since joining Betis for less than £18m last summer, having been in line to complete a £53m switch to Liverpool two years ago.

The France international, capable of playing out wide on either flank as well as a No 10, has emerged as a target again.

The Star claim Arsenal were offered the chance to sign the 26-year-old from Lyon 12 months ago but passed up on the opportunity.

But they've scouted the attacker, capped 23 times by his country, throughout the season and could look to snap him from Betis if Ceballos heads back to Seville.



Attention: Third parties may advertise their products and/or services on our website.7M does not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of their contents.
Your dealings with such third parties are solely between you and such third parties and we shall not be liable in any way for any loss or damage of any sort incurred by you.