Even though Dani Ceballos has been useful as a role player in the Real Madrid center midfield en route to prestigious titles, his play has really nosedived lately, and while Ceballos managed to stick around, as Jurgen Klopp would say like a bad smell, the Spanish capital by working hard and playing above his level, that is no longer the case in 2026.
Ceballos is one of the alleged leakers of negativity to the media, spilling open secrets of the Real Madrid dressing room to the Spanish media, potentially even unflattering things. And he must have really set Alvaro "My Fault" Arbeloa off, because whereas Arbeloa even defends Kylian Mbappe in public, he has no relationship with Ceballos, whose hot headed temprament and goofs have made him an object of derision at Real Madrid.
A reunion with Real Betis has honestly been rumored for years for Ceballos, but it has never materialized because of the questionable midfield depth in the squad, Ceballos always turning it up when it matters (or, at least, that's how it was), and the wage factor. Ceballos has long managed to dig his heels in and collect his check, but it felt like 2026 would be different and Real Madrid would finally dig in themselves to get rid of Ceballos for good after a historically poor season from him in 2025/26.
Real Madrid have been at this for years
Well, according to Diario AS, via Madrid Xtra, Real Madrid are having a hard time giving Dani Ceballos the axe. That's because Ceballos's finances are still a problem for Real Betis, and until someone gives in and facilitates this move, letting him go may not be so easy.
Ceballos, much to the frustration of many Real Madrid fans after an extension, is still under contract at the Santiago Bernabeu for one more season. He makes an insane 10 million euros per season, which is nowhere near the kind of money Real Betis can pay for him - and nobody else would even want to spend remotely that kind of money for him either.
So Ceballos is the albatross and problem child who will not go away, and at 29, his transfer value is nearing its nadir, especially since Real Betis know they are his main option and Real Madrid are desperate to get rid of him after he soured the team on him behind the scenes. Madridistas are practically begging for him to finally leave so they can replace his spot with someone better like Adam Wharton or Rodri.
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