‘I Hope’—Real Madrid Outcast Heavily Hints at Summer Exit

Dani Ceballos, a midfielder for Real Madrid, has publicly expressed his desire to return to his former club Real Betis amid uncertainty about his future at Real Madrid, despite having two years remaining on his contract. Ceballos served as a valued rotation and backup player under manager Carlo Ancelotti, but he has seen limited opportunities under Xabi Alonso, highlighted by just four substitute appearances totaling 70 minutes during the FIFA Club World Cup tournament, indicating a potentially frustrating path ahead.

The departures of key midfielders like Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić have not created openings for Ceballos due to intense competition, with Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurélien Tchouameni, and Arda Güler all ahead of him in the pecking order. Ceballos, who began his career at Real Betis before joining Real Madrid in 2017 and spending two seasons on loan at Arsenal, emphasized Betis as his "home" and expressed hope that the door remains open for a return, citing the club's consistent top-seven finishes in La Liga since 2020, their recent UEFA Conference League final appearance, and their upcoming participation in the Europa League as strong attractions.

Discussions regarding his future with Real Madrid have not yet taken place, but Ceballos confirmed they are scheduled to occur after the current week, stating, "We'll talk about the future after this week. There haven't been any meetings yet." Additionally, he aims for a strong club season to secure a spot in Spain's national team for the 2026 World Cup, having earned 13 caps with limited appearances since 2023.