In a new development that could complicate Dani Ceballos’ return to his former club, Real Betis, the Spanish newspaper AS has revealed that Real Madrid’s management has set an initial price of €20 million for the midfielder.
The 27-year-old, who came through the ranks at Betis before joining Los Blancos in the summer of 2017, appears to be out of the plans of new coach Xabi Alonso, which has made him open to the idea of returning to his first home, according to the report.
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Despite Real Betis’ clear interest in bringing back their former star, negotiations are currently stalled due to Real Madrid’s high valuation. This amount is considered unreasonable by the Andalusian club’s management, given the player’s current situation, both in terms of his limited role in the team and his recent injury record.
According to the same source, Betis is only willing to pay around €10 million, and Real Madrid also expects to contribute a portion of Ceballos’ salary if the deal goes through, as Betis cannot afford his current full salary.
Merengue between a sale option and the need for compensation
Ceballos is still under contract with Real Madrid for two more years, putting the club in a difficult position. If they decide to sell the player this summer, they will have to look for a replacement to bolster the team’s midfield depth, especially since the busy schedule for next season requires ample options.
This comes at a time when the club’s management is seeking to achieve financial balance without negatively impacting the squad, making negotiations with Betis complicated unless one of the parties concedes some of its demands.
