Ceballos’ bubble bursts

If Dani Ceballos hadn’t become a footballer, I would imagine he might have trained to be a bullfighter. The Utrera-born midfielder is a huge bullfighting fan and this evening, he returns to Seville - not to the Maestranza bull ring which has attended many times to watch a corrida - but to the Villamarín as Betis play host to Real Madrid in Week 24 of LaLiga.

Going back to play against his old club will doubtless be a personal challenge for the 26-year-old who is in the final months of his contract with Madrid. He gained plaudits for his impressive return to the XI at the start of 2023 but since then, he has faded back into relative anonymity. Thursday’s Copa del Rey tie was a significant example - he started on the bench against Barça but wasn’t used at all when Ancelotti made three changes late in the game.

Ceballos needs to put in another good performance and who better to do it against that his old club? It would him the world of good to impress against Betis - who have always considered bringing him back to what was once his home, and simultaneously, boost his chances of Madrid offering him a contract extension. As AS has reported, Madrid are keeping all of their options open in this particular case, on one condition - that the player shows he is at the level to play for the club.

Therein lies the crux of the situation. Ceballos enjoyed an outstanding opportunity in the recent Madrid derby. He was included in the starting XI against Atleti after coming on as a late sub at Anfield, but failed to make the most of it. Ancelotti replaced him in the 63rd minute, with the csore still at 0-0. In the following game, El Clásico, he didn’t get past the warm-up...

The Andalusian is losing ground with each week that passes. Of the eight league games so far in 2023, he started six but completed just one - the 2-0 home win over Valencia. And what’s worse for his own interests, when he does play, he is being taken off earlier. In San Mamés he was subbed on 85 minutes, against Real Sociedad on 78′, in Mallorca on 71′, against Elche on 68′, at El Sadar on 66′ and against Atleti in the derby on 63 minutes. It seems like the bubble has burst.

Luka Modric is suspended tonight which opens the door for Ceballos to start once again in a very special game for him. Betis will also be attentive. Although they know their chances of recovering their old player are slim, they haven’t ruled out making another attempt to sign him in the summer.

Carletto, for his part, has been using him to being fresh legs to the team’s games and also to stretch out Modric’s season and give the Croatian a rest. But Modric will regain his place once the decisive games come rolling in. Meanwhile, tonight at the Villamarín, Ceballos will have one of his last opportunities to show his worth.