The only Real Madrid player you should expect to leave in January

Real Madrid fans are focused on the key fixtures ahead of the team following the November international break, as Los Blancos will face three of the other top four teams in LaLiga as well as Serie A champions Inter Milan. But in addition to the big matches ahead, Madridistas are keeping one eye glued to the calendar for when it flips to 2022.

Los Blancos are interested in several high-profile free agents, with Kylian Mbappe being the main prize. Erling Haaland rumors won’t be a strange occurrence either. Meanwhile, Reinier continues to have a concerningly low amount of minutes at Dortmund, suggesting Real Madrid may try to push the Black and Yellows into relenting on their loan agreement.

But the most intriguing storylines may deal with potential exits. Eden Hazard and Marco Asensio are two players reduced to backup roles with potential Premier League interest. Newcastle could be an intriguing destination for the No. 7, given the money Saudi Arabia can pump into the club and the relative dearth of options. Luka Jovic is another player mired in transfer rumors heading into yet another January.

Yet I do not expect any of these three players to move. Hazard has very little transfer value, given his wages and injury history. Banking on Newcastle spending a ton of money is unwise, and that’s assuming Hazard even wants to go there. Why would he leave Madrid for that “project”?

Dani Ceballos has no future at Real Madrid

Asensio could move, but Real may not want to part ways with their only left-footed forward other than Gareth Bale, who is a major injury risk.

Finally, offloading Jovic would be a mistake. Real Madrid would not get fair value for him, and he is the team’s top backup at striker. Karim Benzema is going to be taxed heavily soon, and while Mariano Diaz proved somewhat useful against Elche, Real should not head into the second half of a season in which they could win trophies with Mariano as the top backup to Benzema.

So which player is the most likely to leave if I am skeptical of the Hazard, Asensio, and Jovic rumors? The answer is a player, who, like Mariano and the upcoming 2022 free agents, has no future with Real Madrid. He is a player whom Los Blancos have made it clear they want out of the way, especially after bolstering their midfield depth with Eduardo Camavinga this past summer.

Yes, I am talking about former Real Betis man Dani Ceballos, who remains perpetually close to a return to Los Verdiblancos. And it makes sense for him to go there. Betis could use another body. They know him. He knows them. While Ceballos will never be a key player for Los Blancos, he could easily be a key player for Los Verdiblancos, combining well with the likes of Sergio Canales and Nabil Fekir. Two of LaLiga’s best.

Real Madrid could use the cash from selling off Ceballos. And they could use the space to sign someone at a different position where they need depth. Perhaps another center back so Jesus Vallejo no longer has to enter the equation. Or a real backup right back so Lucas Vazquez is no longer under so much pressure amidst Dani Carvajal’s recurring injuries. How about a left-footed winger? They might be more useful than Ceballos to Carlo Ancelotti.

Ceballos is still recovering from an injury, and there is very limited interest in him beyond Betis. But the Betis link is so sensible and so strong – certainly stronger than any link to any of the other rumored players who could leave Madrid in the winter.

Therefore, if there is one player whom you should have any expectation of leaving in January 2022, then it is Ceballos. Even if it is only for a six-month loan or some other arrangement, Betis seems to be more his speed than Real. If Isco and Antonio Blanco can’t even get minutes, then Ceballos does not really stand a chance.