Ceballos hits rock bottom at Real Madrid as rift with Arbeloa boils over

Dani Ceballos is living what may be the lowest moment of his Real Madrid career — which says a lot for a player who has never fully taken off in white. His absence from the squad list for the recent match against Betis raised eyebrows, especially after the club made it clear it was a purely technical decision. Something had happened.

Álvaro Arbeloa confirmed as much in his post‑match press conference, giving the exact same answer twice when asked why Ceballos had been left in Madrid: “I bring the players I consider appropriate.” The second time, he added a small smile — a sign he knew the real message had landed. The relationship appears broken, with no signs of repair.

Arbeloa softened his tone slightly before the Espanyol–Real Madrid match, but the tension remains: “I don’t get into public debates about situations with my players. I learned more than 20 years ago that what happens in the locker room stays in the locker room. That’s how I’ve always handled it.” Madrid won’t release its squad list until Sunday morning, but it’s already clear: Ceballos won’t be on it.

Cryptic social‑media messages fuel the fire

Ceballos has been posting a series of pointed, cryptic messages on social media. On Monday, he shared a training photo from Valdebebas paired with a song titled “Cerrando capítulo” (“Closing a chapter”). The lyrics hint at resentment and moving on.

He continued the pattern Friday, posting a gym photo from his home with a track called “Hard Work, Clear Dream.” Later, he reposted a highlight video of himself in a Madrid shirt with a song titled “Sin miedo a perder” (“No Fear of Losing”), featuring lines about perseverance and refusing to back down. And on Saturday, another training image — this time paired with a song called “Everything Is a Lie.”

A future that looks anything but certain

As long as Arbeloa remains at Real Madrid, coexistence with Ceballos seems nearly impossible. The coach’s future is highly uncertain — and so is Ceballos’. He’s under contract until June 2027, so he could technically stay, but every summer he flirts with leaving. His preferred destination has always been Betis, though he has never actually made the move.

Last summer, he was close to joining Olympique Marseille, but the deal collapsed over financial issues.

Right now, all signs point to a separation — the only question is whether it happens this summer or drags on longer.

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