DANI CEBALLOS could push for a move back to Real Betis instead of staying with either Arsenal or Real Madrid, Spanish reports claim.
The midfielder’s loan with the Gunners expires at the end of the season, with a decision yet to be made on whether he will remain at the Emirates or return to the Bernabeu.
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According to Estadio Deportivo, Ceballos does not want to give up on his dream of succeeding at Real Madrid but could be forced to leave the club for good and will favour a switch to Betis, where he played from 2014–2017.
It is claimed the 23-year-old is aware of the mass competition he faces in Zinedine Zidane’s midfield, and with Euro 2020 pushed back a year, Ceballos wants to secure regular football to push for a place in the Spain team.
He has made 24 appearances for Arsenal this season, but spent almost two months on the sidelines through injury which halted his momentum having started in the Gunners first 11 league matches.
Emirates boss Mikel Arteta is a fan of the Spaniard, but has no option to make the loan permanent at the end of the season, with Real likely to recall the playmaker and sell him on as they plan for a marquee summer signing.
With midfielders Martin Odegaard and Oscar Rodriguez set to return to the Spanish capital from their respective loans and Zidane understood to be in the market for a new midfielder, Ceballos could face the axe.
Real are linked with Manchester United’s Paul Pogba and Ajax star Donny Van de Beek, leaving Betis monitoring Ceballos’ next move.
Ceballos made 105 appearances for Betis, before moving to Madrid.
With Arteta facing the possibility of losing the Spanish international, it is claimed he has eyed Betis playmaker Nabil Fekir as a replacement.
The 26-year-old came within a whisker of joining Liverpool back in 2018, while at hometown club Lyon, but a year after the £53million move collapsed, he joined the Spanish side for just £18m.
And the 23-cap French international has played well for Betis, scoring seven goals and assisting a further six for the Andalusians.
