Dani Ceballos is reportedly open to staying put at Real Madrid beyond the summer transfer window if he feels he can get regular game-time.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Defensa Central, Dani Ceballos could still be at Real Madrid when the summer transfer window shuts down in a few months. The Spanish midfielder is prepared to stay put at the Santiago Bernabeu if he feels he can get regular game-time, mainly due to the allure of playing in the UEFA Champions League.
Dani Ceballos spent his formative years at three clubs before graduating from the Real Betis academy over half a dozen years ago. After impressing in the first few years of his professional career, the 25-year-old moved to Real Madrid in July 2017. But the transfer did not work out as envisioned, with Zinedine Zidane not utilising him regularly.
Ceballos then spent two years on loan at Arsenal between 2019 and 2021 but endured mixed results at the Emirates. Upon returning to Real Madrid last summer, the Spanish midfielder was hampered by a long-term ankle injury which forced him to miss the first half of the current season.
But Carlo Ancelotti has used the player sparingly even when he has been fit and available. The 25-year-old has managed only 175 minutes of game-time across 12 appearances for Real Madrid in all competitions. So it is hardly surprising that speculation surrounding Ceballos has been growing like wildfire in the last few weeks.
Recent reports have claimed that Ceballos has reached an agreement with Real Betis on personal terms and could return to the Benito Villamarin Stadium in the summer transfer window. The Spaniard has also emerged on the radar of Premier League heavyweights, Liverpool.
But it now appears that Ceballos might be open to staying put at Real Madrid beyond the summer transfer window despite all the rising speculation. According to the report, the prospect of playing in the UEFA Champions League is alluring, although regular game-time remains the decisive factor for the Spanish international.
With the 2022 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, Ceballos needs to be decisive over the call for his future. With former club Real Betis waiting in the wings to re-sign him, it will be interesting to see if he returns to the Andalusian club or stays put at Real Madrid beyond the summer transfer window.