Real Madrid apparently now want Dani Ceballos to replace Isco despite recent claims that Real Madrid don’t want Dani Ceballos at all.
All we know at present is that Zinedine Zidane does not rate Dani Ceballos. That has been the one constant throughout Ceballos’ time at Arsenal – if Zidane is at Real Madrid, Ceballos won’t be.
Just four days ago, it was claimed in Spain that Unai Emery wanted to bring Ceballos to Villarreal and that made the Madrid side happy because they wanted to get their hands on Villarreal’s centreback, Pau Torres and feel like they were baited by Barcelona into spending too much money on Ceballos.
In amongst all that were reports that Isco will absolutely be leaving in the next window and that, despite having worse stats than Mesut Ozil last season (including when it comes to tackling), Arsenal wanted to bring Isco to London.
The latest report still claims that Isco is off, he’s even selling his house, but they don’t indicate where he could go. Real Madrid want to bring Ceballos back to replace him but, of course, Zindane does not.
As for Ceballos, he told the Arsenal matchday programme before the game against Wolves just why he returned to the club and also spoke about settling in London.
“Well, mainly [I came back] because after lockdown last season I played well and was able to help Arsenal win a trophy.
“A coach had joined who had confidence in me and had got the best out of me. Once training is over, I can’t wait for the next day to come. He’s a very special coach and he can become one of the best in the world because he sees football on a level that other coaches I’ve had in the past haven’t matched. Having said that, at the end of the day it’s the players who play and it’s our job to respond to him. I was really keen to come back to this league too, because it’s a league that I like.
“Yes, [I am really settled in London] I spend time with my parents, my girlfriend and my little sister. There are Spaniards on the team too. London is the type of place where you can go and hear Spanish being spoken, English being spoken. It’s the same for the Germans in the team. I’m really pleased with how settled I am in London.”
He also spoke to another outlet about his parent club and, should they call, he will return.
In a S*n EXCLUSIVE, Ceballos reportedly told them, “The Bernabeu is the Mecca of football.
“You can ask Mesut Ozil, who always spoke about Real Madrid as the best club in the world.
“Wearing that badge is the goal of 99 per cent of footballers.
“Last year I was happy at Arsenal, and I reached an agreement with Real Madrid to continue for another year.
“There was no problem because we all understood that it was going to do well for my future.
“Real Madrid is the owner of my future for the next three years and I am not the one who will decide.
“At least I’m not going to do it alone because it also depends on the coach and the president.
“But nobody refuses to play for Real Madrid.”
So.
Make of all that what you want.