After coming over from Real Betis last summer, Real Madrid fans had high expectations for midfielder Dani Ceballos. His first year with the Spanish giants did not go to plan as he played in less than 20 matches. Can the 21-year-old make a name for himself in this talented squad?
Sometimes, a fairytale first season is not in the cards. Sometimes, the expectations are simply too high. That is exactly what happened to the man wearing number 24 this season for The Whites.
After lighting the Spanish first division ablaze with his incredible passing and consistency running the midfield, experts expected Dani to step into the Real Madrid lineup and add some valuable depth.
Much like we saw with Marcos Llorente, the two Spaniards were simply not to be regulars in Zinedine Zidane’s team. Although both possess the raw talent and potential to be regular starters on some of the best teams in Europe, this year was definitely a setback for Dani Ceballos.
Will this year’s lack of play hinder Dani’s development? I think it will to some extent.
Over the course of the 2017/2018 campaign, Dani made a total of seven starts in La Liga and the Copa Del Rey which is not nearly enough playing time for a player who is still developing his skills. I didn’t think he would be a regular in the squad, but I certainly expected him to play more than he did.
To retrace my steps, can he make a name for himself at Real Madrid? I think it is possible but a few things need to change.
First and most importantly, Dani needs to be playing regular minutes week in and week out. This means President Florentino Perez should be looking to send him out on loan for at least this season and maybe even two.
Secondly, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos are at the peak of their career’s right now, so becoming a regular starter in the very near future is unrealistic. Moving down the pecking order, Mateo Kovacic has proven his skill through his incredible substitution appearances and hard work in training, making him the first option off the bench in nearly every match.
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This would put Ceballos as the third or even fourth choice off the bench behind Isco, Asensio, and Kova. Therefore, personnel changes will have to be made if he is to become a starter.
I really liked the signing heading into this season and I still believe Dani can be a star for Los Blancos one day. But, he must get some more playing time and the best way to do that will be through a loan this upcoming season.
Don’t count out Ceballos just yet. He can still one day be a world-class player for this team.
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