Real Madrid have reportedly made a decision on the future of Real Betis-linked Dani Ceballos ahead of the January transfer window.
Ceballos has struggled for regular first-team football under manager Carlo Ancelotti and was restricted to just eight starts across all competitions last season as Los Blancos won the La Liga title and Champions League.
This term, the 28-year-old has been limited to three substitute appearances in the Champions League and five outings in La Liga, although he has started and played the full 90 minutes in Real Madrid's last two Spanish top-flight games.
Indeed, Ceballos was called upon to start in Real Madrid's 3-0 victory away against Leganes on November 24, before playing the full match in a 2-0 home win over Getafe last weekend.
In the absence of injured midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, Ceballos was preferred to club legend Luka Modric in the middle of the pitch for both of those top-flight fixtures.
The former Arsenal loanee has recently been in the headlines amid reported interest in his services from former club Real Betis, with Fichajes claiming that they are pushing to re-sign the midfielder in January.
© Imago
Ceballos set to stay at Real Madrid in January
However, a separate report from the same news outlet states that Real Madrid will not entertain offers for the 13-cap Spain international and have 'closed the door' on his departure in January.
The report adds that Los Blancos have made the decision to keep hold of Ceballos as he has become an 'essential resource' in the middle of the pitch for Ancelotti's team in recent weeks.
Real Madrid's hierarchy feel that a balance of youth and experience in midfield is required, and Ceballos provides the latter having now entered the prime years of his career and having made over 150 appearances for the club.
Ceballos began his career with Real Betis and played 105 times for the Seville-based side over a three-year period before joining Real Madrid for around €18m in the summer of 2017.
When Ancelotti has all of his midfield options fit and available for selection, including Tchouameni, Modric, Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham and Arda Guler, Ceballos is not considered as one of the first names on the teamsheet.
However, Fichajes suggests that Ceballos - who is under contract at the Santiago Bernabeu until June 2027 - is keen to take advantage of the first-team role presented to him in recent weeks and will bid to establish himself as a regular in the coming months.
Oliver Thomas
