Real Madrid: Dani Ceballos is interested in returning to Real Betis
By Ben Sundock
Disappointed with his minutes at Real Madrid since joining the club over the summer, Dani Ceballos says he is open to returning to Real Betis. Will it actually happen?
“Dani wanted to return to Betis last month,” Betis goalkeeper Adan said in an interview last week. “I spoke with him directly and there was the possibility of him returning the club, and he wanted to if it was possible.”
It’s hard to blame Dani at this point as the start to his Real Madrid career has gone nowhere near as well as many expected. The funny thing about the situation is that it’s not Ceballos’ fault either.
Until late in January, Dani had been healthy and was included in the squad for nearly every match in both La Liga and Champions League play. However, Zinedine Zidane has been hesitant to inject the talented young midfielder into the starting XI with regularity.
He has started just two league matches (against Deprotivo Alaves and Eibar) and has appeared as a substitute four times. In total, Dani has played in just 13 Real Madrid competitive matches since August.
He has played just 286 minutes in the UCL and La Liga and despite his three starts in the CdR, he is still unhappy.
And I don’t blame him.
At 21-years-old and with a brilliant performance in the U-21 Euro tournament over the summer, it is safe to say that his lack of playing time is affecting his development greatly. In both the 2015/2016 season and the 2016/2017 season, Ceballos played well over 2,000 minutes for Real Betis as he solidified himself as a quality starting player for the club based in Seville.
While many fans and critics may think that Dani Ceballos’ development has slowed since his move to Madrid, his former teammate Adan and his former manager, Quique Setien, seem to think he has gotten better since his departure.
"“If there was the possibility of him returning to Betis he would do it, we are the one club he would consider leaving Madrid for. It is not only Dani who wanted it, the Coach (Quique Setien) did too but it was only due to technical issues that he could not come back.”“He has improved as a player despite not playing as many games as he would like to, he is a different one than when he left us and I’m convinced he will be a success at Madrid.”"
Dani returned to full training Monday and has a chance to be included in the squad for this weekend’s match against his former club on the road.
Next: Real Madrid training update: Ceballos back training as the team begins preparing for PSG
If Zidane wants to keep Dani Ceballos in Madrid, he needs to start playing him more, obviously. If the spring resembles the fall, I can easily see him pushing for a loan back to his former club or maybe forcing Real Madrid to sell him to a club that wants him in the starting XI for the foreseeable future.
One thing is very apparent right now: Zidane is underutilizing a young talent and potentially forcing him out the door with the lack of playing time he has had all season.