Dani Ceballos finds himself at a crossroads. The Spaniard’s contract runs out in the summer, and the decision between leaving as a free agent or staying at Real Madrid rests entirely on his shoulders.
According to reports from Tomas Gonzalez-Martin, Ceballos would have a renewal offer with a salary of €5 million per season. The duration of the proposed extension will be three years with an option to extend for a further season.
Normally, such an extension would be a no-brainer for any player at Real Madrid. The catch, however, is that Ceballos would be a squad player upon renewal.
The Spaniard is already the fifth-choice midfielder behind Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga. Assuming Jude Bellingham joins in the summer, Ceballos will be pushed further down the pecking order.
The player’s decision, thus, depends on his prioritisation of playing time. Still 26 years of age, Ceballos has the best years of his career ahead of him and it would be strange to see him settle for a role on the bench.
The Spaniard has no shortage of suitors, with former club Real Betis said to be one of the teams interested in his services.
The midfielder has a special history with Real Betis where he made his initial breakthrough into senior football. He moved to Real Madrid for €15 million in 2017 and could be open to a return if things do not work out with his contract extension.
Ceballos has made 17 league appearances for Real Madrid this season, providing one assist in the process. He averages a key pass in every game and averages six defensive actions per game.
The coming months will be key in the midfielder deciding his future, for it will depend on the extent to which Carlo Ancelotti includes him in the team’s dynamics.