Roberto De Zerbi regrets Dani Ceballos snub: ‘He missed a unique opportunity at Marseille’ | OneFootball

On the eve of Olympique de Marseille’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid, Roberto De Zerbi has revealed his regret at Dani Ceballos’ summer decision not to join the Ligue 1 club.

The 29-year-old midfielder came close to signing for OM in mid-August, with an agreement in place between Marseille and Real Madrid worth between €10m and €15m. However, the deal collapsed after Ceballos requested more time to reflect – a hesitation that Marseille’s hierarchy did not appreciate in the final days of the transfer window.

Speaking in Monday’s press conference transcribed by RMC Sport, De Zerbi was full of admiration for the Spain international but admitted disappointment: “Ceballos is a great player, a good person. He didn’t join us, we regret that. He plays in a great team but he missed a unique opportunity, because OM is a special club. But I will greet him with affection. We signed other players of great talent too – that’s football, that’s life.”

The failed transfer made headlines late in the summer, with Dani Carvajal later revealing that new Real coach Xabi Alonso convinced his teammate to stay: “He seemed to be going to Marseille… but the coach told him he was going to count on him, that the season is long, with many matches.”

Instead, Marseille turned to Angel Gomes, who is expected to start in midfield against Real Madrid on Tuesday evening, just ahead of Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Geoffrey Kondogbia. Meanwhile, Ceballos is likely to begin on the bench, with Alonso preferring a midfield duo of Aurélien Tchouaméni and Federico Valverde.GFFN | George Boxall