Real Madrid star convinced he can be important in team after rejecting Ligue 1 move | OneFootball

Dani Ceballos came very close to leaving Real Madrid and joining Olympique de Marseille, their opponents in the UEFA Champions League tonight.

The 29-year-old midfielder did not feature heavily under Xabi Alonso at the FIFA Club World Cup or in the early parts of the season, leading to him seeking an exit, and Marseille came forward.

Everything appeared set for Ceballos to join the Ligue 1 club, with an agreement in place as well, only for him to make a last-minute U-turn and remain at Real Madrid.

Why Ceballos rejected Marseille?

As Ceballos prepares to face what could have been his new club, MARCA has come forward with a report on how his transfer to Marseille ended up falling through.

The agreement between Ceballos and Marseille was done, and the player was preparing to travel to France. However, at the last moment, he changed course and decided to remain at Real Madrid.

“It is not easy to leave the best club in the world,” the midfielder from Seville reasoned in private.

Ceballos opted to stay at Real Madrid. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Furthermore, despite his reduced role so far, Ceballos remains convinced that he can be important at Real Madrid and make valuable contributions to help the team under Xabi Alonso.

The driving force behind the aborted deal was Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi. The Italian coach had convinced the midfielder with a project built around him: he would be the centre of his tactical plan.

De Zerbi showed Ceballos a level of trust and appreciation that the player valued. After rejecting the proposal at the last minute, the Real Madrid star personally called the coach to apologise and to thank him for his efforts.

While he did get some minutes in the first three matches of the season, Ceballos made his first start this past weekend against Real Sociedad and made a solid impression.

It is a step forward that has boosted his confidence in gaining more opportunities throughout the season.