Real Madrid career over? Alvaro Arbeloa avoids question on absence of veteran player | OneFootball

Real Madrid slipped to another draw against Real Betis on Friday night, drawing 1-1 at La Cartuja, without the one player that has played for both sides. Despite Aurelien Tchouameni pulling out of the squad late with an injury, Dani Ceballos was not included in the trip to Seville.

Castilla midfielder Manuel Angel came in the final stages of the game, while Thiago Pitarch was the player that replaced Tchouameni in the starting XI. Fellow youngsters Diego Aguado and Jorge Cestero were also included instead of the 29-year-old.

Arbeloa avoids questions on Ceballos absence

Not best pleased after the match anyway, Arbeloa complained about the refereeing and was unable to provide much more on Kylian Mbappe’s injury, before Ceballos’ absence came up. He was asked why Ceballos had been left out of the squad.

“I always bring the players that I consider appropriate,” he responded, and when pushed as to whether something had happened between the two of them, Arbeloa answered with same line.

Dani Ceballos could leave Real Madrid this summer

The 29-year-old midfielder has been a bit-part player for some time at Real Madrid, and has a year left on his contract at the Santiago Bernabeu. Although he has frequently been linked with the exit door, this summer he is expected to leave the club.

The only side that has been reported to have shown an interest are Ajax, who are now led by Jordi Cruyff as sporting director. Ceballos pulled out of a move on loan to Olympique Marseille at the end of August last year, and has always hinted that he would like to head back to Betis, his first club. Financially, Betis have been unable to pull off a deal, and it is not clear whether they will pursue him again this year.