Real Madrid midfielder blocks his move to Marseille after agreement reached | OneFootball

In a surprising turn of events, Dani Ceballos has decided to reject a move to Olympique de Marseille despite negotiations between the French club and Real Madrid being close to completion.

According to AS, the Spanish midfielder stopped the transfer himself, choosing instead to stay at the Santiago Bernabeu and fight for a place.

It must be noted that Talks had advanced significantly on Tuesday afternoon, with Marseille and Madrid agreeing on the terms of a deal.

However, Ceballos ultimately pulled the plug, convinced that leaving for Ligue 1 would be a step backwards in his career.

For the 29-year-old, continuing at Madrid, even with limited minutes, felt like a better option than moving to France.

Details of the failed transfer

Marseille had proposed a loan deal with a mandatory purchase clause next summer worth €1.1 million plus €4 million in variables.

Real Madrid, who had initially set their asking price at €15 million, were surprisingly ready to accept this offer.

Dani Ceballos has rejected the offer to join Marseille. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

However, it was Ceballos who refused to give the green light, as he never felt fully convinced by the move.

For what it is worth, while Madrid remain open to offers, Ceballos will only consider leaving if a move aligns with his personal ambitions.

Betis still in the picture

The outlet also mentions that for now, a reunion with Betis is still on the cards, although it seems complicated.

The La Liga club are focused on trying to sign Antony from Manchester United, a costly operation that makes it difficult to also bring back Ceballos.

Only if Antony’s deal collapses would Betis consider turning their attention to their former midfielder.

As it stands, Ceballos will remain a Real Madrid player, at least until another offer arrives that convinces both him and the club.