Real Madrid fans are used to long -term transfersagas at one level, with Kylian Mbappe perhaps the longest in recent memory. The consistency of Dani Ceballos that is linked every summer to a move to Real Betis is currently infallible.
The 28-year-old resident of Sevilla drew a new deal with Los Blancos two years ago and held him in the club until 2027. But in each of the last three summers, Ceballos is strongly connected to a move back to his first club, Real Madrid. Los Verdiblancos also flirted of the idea, but has made it public that they would not pay major transfer costs for Ceballos.
It was reported this week that Ceballos, such as teammate Eduardo Camavinga, who was also missing lately, was not for sale. Cadena Ser says that manager Xabi Alonso has gone one further and Ceballos told that he is not going anywhere this summer.
Ceballos himself had flirted and said publicly that he was 'open to everything' and showed social media that he had tried to make the switch happen. Yet it seems as if Alonso feels that he needs him at least.
Some of Ceballos' doubts about the stay in the club were based on the fact that he received small playing time during the club World Cup, with less than 90 minutes in their six games. Ceballos will compete with Arda Guler, Aurelien Tchouameni, Fede Valverde, Camavinga and Jude Bellingham next season.
It has been generally reported that Alonso has the feeling that he needs another midfielder this summer, but the club is reluctant to break the bank to bring him one. Not using Ceballos in the US has perhaps been his way of showing the board that he may not have been convinced by Ceballos, and a new recruit was necessary.