Dani Ceballos watched Real Madrid’s LaLiga EA Sports fixture against Málaga this afternoon, fueling speculation regarding a potential transfer to Real Betis as the summer transfer window approaches its final hours.
The midfielder remains unattached and is waiting for Betis to clear the necessary salary margin and squad space in central midfield to complete his registration, according to broadcasts from Movistar Plus. Television cameras captured Ceballos celebrating Real Madrid’s third goal scored by Kylian Mbappé late in the first half, seated near Ester Expósito, the partner of the French forward.
The Battle for Betis’s Midfield
Ceballos has grown increasingly likely to return to his former club, with his standing in Betis’s recruitment plans improving significantly. According to reporting cited by AS, the player moved ahead of Sofyan Amrabat in Manuel Pellegrini’s shortlist after Amrabat opted to sign for Ajax. While the transfer is not yet finalized, the path toward a homecoming for the player developed in Heliópolis appears clearer.
Betis shifted priorities late in the window. Pellegrini initially favored Amrabat to anchor the center of the pitch, but club officials ultimately pivoted to Ceballos as a viable alternative. The player continues to wait as the club works to untangle financial constraints and squad registration caps required to welcome him back to the Benito Villamarín.
Shifting Representation and Club Stance
The weeks leading up to the transfer deadline have brought administrative changes for Ceballos, who parted ways with family representation. His sister Salomé previously managed his career affairs, but the player appointed LIAN Sports—the agency run by Fali Ramadani—to handle his negotiations. Ramadani’s firm represents several notable European professionals, including Federico Chiesa and Kalidou Koulibaly.
Betis leadership has maintained a cautious public stance regarding the midfielder despite his expressed desire to rejoin the club. Speaking during the presentation of summer acquisitions Diego Conde, Fran García, and Facundo Bernal, sporting director Manu Fajardo urged calm. “No hay que hacer telenovela,” Fajardo said, while club president Ángel Haro adopted a pragmatic approach. “Depende de que haya límite, de que sea una posición que necesitamos, de que el entrenador quiera ese jugador, cuando se dan, se produce la operación,” Haro stated.
What Comes Next
Betis must finalize outgoing roster moves and balance its financial books before any agreement with Ceballos can be made official. With the transfer window ticking down, all parties await the final administrative adjustments required to clear his registration in LaLiga.
