Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos was left out of the squad list to face Real Betis by manager Alvaro Arbeloa in La Liga last week.
Soon after, it emerged that there had been a dispute between the Spanish midfielder and the head coach and that the 29-year-old might not be called up again for any game in the rest of the season.
When asked about in the press conference, Arbeloa got defensive and simply said: “Why did Ceballos not travel? Is there a problem? I always call up those I consider appropriate.”
The full story
Now, MARCA has come forward with an extensive report detailing what went down between Arbeloa and Ceballos and how things came down to this.
The “Ceballos case” began a little over a week ago, a day before the game against Real Betis. The midfielder arrived at Valdebebas on Thursday, entered the coach’s office, where they had a tense face-to-face meeting at the player’s request.
Upon leaving, Ceballos told his teammates in the dressing room that he had asked the coach not to have any kind of relationship. He suggested that there was something personal with Arbeloa and that he believed he would not be selected for any more matches.
He explained the situation as a way of ensuring it would not affect the group, as he has great respect for his teammates. The squad received the unexpected news, but so many things have happened this season that nothing comes as a surprise anymore.
Arbeloa has had a falling out with Ceballos. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
The confrontation on Thursday was not the first between Arbeloa and Ceballos. They had already clashed in the past, and that unresolved tension ultimately led to last week’s breakdown, when everything finally escalated.
No way back
Real Madrid, for their part, were informed the development. They wanted to avoid creating another internal issue, but the club chose to respect the coach’s decision, as they usually do in these situations.
Not only that, there was no attempt from either side to conceal or soften the reality. Beyond the specific incident, some within the club believe Ceballos may have provoked a conflict with a view to the future, in order to facilitate a departure and justify his lack of playing time.
From the player’s perspective, the situation had become so difficult that he could not continue until the end of the season.
Ceballos has not played a single minute since returning from injury at the beginning of April and will not play again. Under contract until 2027, the midfielder is clear that this is his final year at the club.
Real Madrid share that view and now only an agreement remains. Ceballos’ departure will free up salary space and create room for new signings or for the consolidation of young talents who have impressed this season and fit the club’s plans.
