Real Madrid News
La Liga club not giving up on free transfer pursuit of Real Madrid midfielder
According to AS, Real Betis still remain interested in signing former midfielder Dani Ceballos when his contract with Real Madrid expires at the end of the season.
Ceballos came through the ranks at Real Betis and was regarded as one of the most talented young midfielders in Spain when he made the move to Madrid in the summer of 2017.
The 26-year-old did not get enough opportunities early in his tenure at the Santiago Bernabeu and spent two seasons out on loan at Arsenal. Upon returning in 2021, Ceballos was not a regular in Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
But, slowly and steadily, the midfielder has shown that he can be a valuable commodity in the team, especially with his performances this season in the post-World Cup period.
In 24 games this term, Ceballos has scored a goal and set up six more, with his performance against Elche earlier this week being a standout.
Owing to his recent form, Real Madrid are now considering offering the Spaniard a new contract, with his current one expiring at the end of the season.
But, with still no move made on that front, Real Betis are monitoring the situation closely as they remain interested in re-signing Ceballos on a Bosman deal in the summer.
In fact, the report from AS even adds that Los Verdiblancos made their first financial and sporting proposal to the midfielder recently, but he remains keen on how things go for him with Real Madrid in the remainder of the season.
As iterated earlier, Ceballos has been gaining prominence in Ancelotti’s plans in recent months and has repaid the faith with some solid displays. With Luka Modric’s continuity up in the air, it could become important for the Merengues to keep hold of the Spaniard.
Ceballos has maintained that he wants to continue at Real Madrid. But if a renewal offer does not arrive, Real Betis are waiting in the wings while Inter Milan are said to be interested as well.
According to TeamTalk, Real Madrid have joined the growing list of clubs monitoring Gabriel Rajkovic, a 15-year-old winger whose rapid development at Valerenga has already attracted attention from several of Europe’s leading sides.
The Merengues are known for keeping an eye on exciting young talent across the globe and it seems that Rajkovic’s exploits in Norway, with the first team, have alerted them.
Real Madrid keeping tabs on Rajkovic
As per the report, Real Madrid are among a host of clubs closely following the progress of the young forward.
Rajkovic holds both Norwegian and Serbian nationality and has emerged as one of the most promising young players in Norway.
His development has not gone unnoticed, with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund also understood to be monitoring him.
However, at this point, it is Arsenal and Chelsea, who are understood to be leading the charge for Rajkovic, having compiled a detailed dossier on the teenage prodigy after extensive scouting.
On top of that, the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have all watched Rajkovic in recent weeks.
Real Madrid could therefore face significant competition if they decide to step up their interest in a player who has already made an impression at senior level.
Making an impact at just 15
Rajkovic was handed a promotion to the Valerenga first-team squad in January earlier this year, when he was only 14 years old.
Following that, he signed a new contract with the club in March, when he turned 15, committing to the club until 2028.
Despite being only 15, the winger has already begun gaining experience in first-team football. In all, he has made 14 senior appearances for the Norwegian outfit, scoring three and assisting one goal.
Rajkovic has also represented Norway Under-16s, making two appearances and scoring once despite being younger than many of his teammates.
Those numbers become more impressive when his age and stage of development are taken into account.
Real Madrid have built a reputation for identifying young talent well before players reach their peak, and Rajkovic has now emerged as another name on their scouting radar.
But given the number of clubs in the race, signing the teenage wonderkid will not be easy.
