Dani Ceballos is officially on vacation, but questions about his future remain very much in play, but that won’t stop reporters from finding a way to squeeze some questions in. The Andalusian midfielder was approached by reporters upon his arrival in Seville, where he briefly addressed speculation linking him with a return to Real Betis.
“I’m already on vacation after a long season. Everything’s fine,” Ceballos told reporters as he loaded his luggage into his car. “It’s an important topic for me, but we’ll talk about my future in a few weeks. Betis was my home and always will be. I hope the door to Real Betis is always open. I haven’t spoken to them yet, but we’re open to everything.”
While Ceballos is open to a Betis reunion, it may have to wait until his contract his up.
Ceballos grew in prominence last season under Carlo Ancelotti until injuries derailed his season. New manager Xabi Alonso seems like he will put Ceballos to good use in the squad, and it’s also very clear that Real Madrid don’t really have anyone else, apart from Arda Güler, with his specific profile in midfield now that Luka Modric has left.
While a move back to Betis would be emotionally compelling for Ceballos and welcomed by many fans of the Verdiblancos, the logistics are complicated. The midfielder still has two years left on his Real Madrid contract, and Betis would need to negotiate a transfer fee—something that could be a challenge given their current financial limitations.
From Real Madrid’s perspective, the club might be hesitant to part ways with a technically gifted, experienced Spanish midfielder at a time when depth and versatility in midfield are more necessary than ever. If Ceballos did leave, Real Madrid would certainly have to go to the transfer market.
