Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images
Dani Ceballos finds himself at a familiar crossroads once again, with AS reporting that the Real Madrid midfielder’s future remains undecided despite his efforts to grow in importance last season.
With Xabi Alonso now replacing Carlo Ancelotti at the helm, Ceballos must once more prove his worth to secure a meaningful role in the team.
His time at Madrid has often been marked by hope followed by disappointment. Just when it seems like Ceballos is on the verge of becoming a regular, something derails the momentum, be it injury, tactical decisions, or the simple bad luck of timing.
Last season was difficult
Last season was another example. While he featured in 41 matches and clocked 1,988 minutes, he only started eight times.
He was seen as an option for important games, but when it mattered most, he was nowhere to be found.
Dani Ceballos’ future is uncertain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
For now, nothing can be said for sure about the midfielder, as Alonso brings a different vision and style, and the expectation is that competition will be even tougher.
Real Madrid are actively searching for an organising midfielder, and Ceballos already finds himself behind Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Eduardo Camavinga in the pecking order.
Still fighting for his place
Despite all this, Ceballos, who has a contract until 2027, is not looking for an exit. This is now the stage of his career where he wants to be a leader. The risk, however, is that he could once again end up on the fringes.
For now, he continues to fight. He is staying committed, working hard, and waiting for his chance. But time and competition are not on his side.
With Alonso ushering in a new era and Madrid’s midfield evolving quickly, the question remains: will Dani Ceballos finally rise, or will this season be another chapter of what could have been?
Outgoing Real Madrid ace once again proves why he is unmatched in his role
Luka Modric might be 39, but you would not have guessed it watching him against the Czech Republic.
Before returning to club duties with Real Madrid for the FIFA Club World Cup, the club legend put on a masterclass in midfield during Croatia’s dominant 5-1 win.
Modric’s brilliance came to life just after the scoreline was level at 1-1. The veteran stepped up confidently to convert a penalty, giving his team the lead with typical calmness and precision.
Moments later, Ivan Perisic made it 3-1 with a clever strike, before Ante Budimir added another from the spot. But Modric wasn’t finished.
Showing the vision that has defined his career, he threaded a perfectly weighted pass into the box for Andrej Kramaric to finish, an assist few would have seen, let alone executed.
That pass was a reminder of just how special Modric still is. After 80 minutes of top-level football, he came off to a standing ovation before he travels to Milan to complete a reported move to the Rossoneri.
Performance in numbers
Luka Modric put on another masterclass performance. (Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)
His performance was not just about the goals and assists, as it was a full display of class. He finished with one goal and one assist, completed 70 of his 77 passes, and had 89 touches in total.
His pass accuracy stood at an impressive 91%. He also created one big chance, played three accurate long balls out of five, took four shots, and won all three of his duels.
Modric completed both of his dribbles and made four ball recoveries, controlling the midfield like he has done for over a decade.