Last week there were multiple reports in the Spanish media about Dani Ceballos wanting to end his loan period with Arsenal to instead go somewhere else for the second half of the season.
The Real Madrid owned midfielder had been very keen on a move to the Gunners, with Unai Emery specifically wanting the player. Things didn’t go to plan, and with Euro 2020 on the horizon, Ceballos wants a new club so he can get enough minutes to impress Luis Enrique.
Most of the Spanish media last week reported Arsenal were set against an exit, feeling they may need Ceballos between now and the end of the current campaign. Marca didn’t share that stance, believing that ultimately the Premier League club would let him go.
They do, however, present a new problem today. Valencia have been the club most linked, and Marca state Real Madrid don’t want to send the player there.
Valencia are still in the Champions League and a rival in La Liga, so Madrid don’t want to strengthen them. Los Blancos would instead prefer to send Cabellos to Real Betis, the player’s former club who are also interested.
The stance seems curious from Madrid, with Valencia seventh in La Liga, and Betis twelfth.
Valencia face Atalanta in the next round of the Champions League, and Madrid’s reluctance could be more related to that situation.
Still, Arsenal need to give approval for anything to happen, and Mikel Arteta last week suggested he expects Ceballos to fight for his place.
