Dani Ceballos to Real Betis Not on the Cards This Summer

Dani Ceballos will not return to Real Betis this summer. Financial reasons have stopped the deal despite his strong connection with the club. Betis is now looking at other players, making it impossible for Ceballos to return for now.

WHAT HAPPENED?

During the transfer window, Dani Ceballos was linked with a move away from Real Madrid. The midfielder, who played only a few minutes as a substitute in Madrid’s first two La Liga matches this season, wanted to return to his childhood club, Real Betis. Despite talks between the two clubs and Ceballos’ eagerness to join, Betis could not afford the transfer fee required by Real Madrid, believed to be around €15 million. Financial constraints forced Betis to step back from negotiations, and the transfer was declared impossible from an economic standpoint. Currently, Ceballos has only featured once this season, coming on as a second-half substitute, and has made just four minutes in two La Liga games, highlighting his struggle for playing time this season.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Ceballos has made only two brief appearances under Real Madrid’s new coach and faces strong competition in midfield with the return of stars like Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga. Madrid remains open to letting him leave, but Ceballos clearly prefers Betis over other potential suitors such as Marseille. In fact, he has aspirations of moving to Marseille, where negotiations have been ongoing but remain unresolved, as noted by reports confirming that Ceballos will not be joining Olympique Marseille after talks broke down recently. For Betis, budget constraints have redirected their focus toward more affordable targets, with the club now working hard to sign Antony instead. Currently, Betis sits mid-table in La Liga after a mixed start to the campaign, while Real Madrid is pushing for another league title and has started the season strong after finishing second last season.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Dani Ceballos is expected to remain at Real Madrid unless a last-minute solution is found. He is open to staying and fighting for his place but may still seek more playing time elsewhere before the window closes. Real Betis’ attention has shifted, with the club making Antony a priority signing to support their attack ahead of their busy schedule. Betis’ next game is against Athletic Club in La Liga, with both teams just a few points apart and fighting to move up from their current 6th and 5th place in the standings respectively. Real Madrid, meanwhile, prepares to face Mallorca, holding second place and level on points with both Villarreal and Barcelona, the three only teams with 9 points so far. The situation could still change if another club steps in at the last minute, but a return to Betis now seems unlikely.