The situation inside Real Madrid continues to unravel, and the latest development from AS points towards a serious breakdown in the relationship between Dani Ceballos and manager Alvaro Arbeloa.
At a time when Madrid are already struggling for consistency on the pitch, issues are beginning to surface more openly and this particular case shows a deeper problem within the squad dynamic.
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Notably, the midfielder has seen his role diminish significantly in recent weeks, with limited opportunities to feature despite the team’s ongoing struggles.
That frustration reached a new level ahead of the clash against Real Betis.
Message from Arbeloa
When the squad list was announced, Ceballos’ absence stood out immediately.
Despite not being a regular starter, he had remained a consistent presence in matchday squads. This time, however, he was left out entirely and not due to injury.
The decision was purely tactical, making it even more difficult to justify from the player’s point of view.
The situation became even more striking when considering the alternatives selected.
Ceballos was left out of the Real Betis clash. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
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Aurélien Tchouameni was initially included but then dropped at the last moment, while academy players such as Jorge Cestero and Manuel Angel were given opportunities instead.
For Ceballos, it was effectively a triple blow – overlooked, replaced, and sidelined without any plausible reason.
The match took place in Seville, a city with strong emotional ties for Ceballos, given his history with Betis.
Being left out in such a context has inevitably deepened the sense of frustration, turning what was already a difficult situation into a personal setback.
A bad season
As such, Ceballos, who is on Real Madrid’s transfer list, has not started a La Liga match since November.
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Quite understandably, the root of the problem is a deteriorating relationship between player and manager.
Communication has broken down, trust has eroded, and the lack of minutes has only intensified the situation.
Ultimately, as seen in similar cases in the past, the balance of power rarely favours the player, meaning the likely outcome is a forced summer exit.
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