Álvaro Arbeloa definitively sidelines him from Real Madrid: He will never play again

Neither the weight absences nor the forced rotations changed Dani Ceballos's fate. In the last league match, with absences as significant as those of Jude Bellingham or Vinícius Júnior, the midfielder from Seville once again was left without minutes. A decision that no longer surprises, but that remains significant.

Álvaro Arbeloa chose alternative solutions rather than turning to "19". He opted for academy player David Jiménez to reorganize the team and move Federico Valverde back to the midfield. The message was clear: Ceballos is not part of the plan, not even in favorable contexts.

An increasingly marginal role

Since Arbeloa's arrival on Real Madrid's bench, Ceballos's situation has gone from bad to worse. His role has gone from secondary to merely testimonial, even more discreet than the one he had in previous stages. He has been overtaken by all his direct teammates and also by young players who are starting to emerge.

Jorge Cestero's case is especially revealing. The young midfielder once again had minutes and enjoys the coach's full trust, who knows him well and values his profile. For Ceballos, every appearance by someone else is one more step toward the exit.

A conversation that changes everything

The turning point came after the match against Valencia. According to various reports, Ceballos had a direct conversation with Arbeloa that finally clarified the picture. The message was blunt: there will be no minutes for the remainder of the season and his presence in a starting eleven is highly unlikely.

From that moment on, the footballer assumes that his time at Bernabéu is over. Not even as an impact substitute does he have space anymore. Meanwhile, Florentino Pérez is preparing a deep restructuring of the locker room and the departure of the player from Seville is highlighted in red, regardless of who manages the team in the future.

A return that takes shape

Real Madrid will not put up obstacles. The idea is to facilitate his departure and close a sale close to 10 million euros. Nine years after arriving as one of the great promises of Spanish soccer, Ceballos is preparing to start a new chapter far from Chamartín.

That chapter strongly points to Real Betis Balompié, the club where he made his name, which is waiting for him with open arms. Manuel Pellegrini backs the move and the player himself has never hidden his desire to return. Everything is ready, it only remains to make it official.