Real Madrid midfielder was open to leaving in January if former club had made an offer | OneFootball

According to a recent report from The Athletic, Dani Ceballos was open to leaving Real Madrid in January only if Real Betis had made an offer for him.

Notably, the Spanish midfielder has been considering an exit for some time. 

In fact, reports suggest he asked to leave during each of the past two summer windows, and a similar situation could unfold again at the end of the current season. 

As such, Betis continue to be the club closest to the player’s heart, but finances have consistently blocked any potential transfer. 

The fellow La Liga side has struggled to match both Real Madrid’s asking price and Ceballos’ salary, which is believed to be around €4.5 million per year. 

That financial gap has prevented negotiations from progressing into something concrete.

No defined role at Real Madrid

As expected, sporting factors have played a major role in the uncertainty surrounding his future. 

Since returning to Madrid, Ceballos has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter. 

Ceballos is staring at an uncertain future at Real Madrid. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

He found it difficult to secure consistent minutes under Carlo Ancelotti, and the situation did not improve under Xabi Alonso.

Now, under the current coach, Alvaro Arbeloa, his role remains limited. 

Reports indicate that Arbeloa does not consider Ceballos an important part of his plans, and the midfielder’s profile does not fully match the manager’s tactical preferences. 

So what now?

With his contract still running and no immediate exit on the table, Ceballos appears set to finish the season in Madrid. 

However, the reality of his situation means he must already start thinking about the next step in his career.

This is not a new dilemma for the midfielder. 

For several years, he has explored the possibility of leaving in search of more regular football, yet two main obstacles have always stood in the way, which is the lack of firm offers and the difficulty for Betis to cover his wages. 

Unless those conditions change, the same story could repeat itself once again.