Real Madrid News
Real Betis chief leaves the door open for Real Madrid midfielder – ‘He is an attractive footballer’
Real Betis legend Joaquin Sanchez, who is now part of the club’s sporting management, has discussed the possibility of signing Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos during the upcoming winter transfer window.
Joaquin acknowledged that Ceballos, who attended Real Betis’ game against Celta Vigo, remains a key player, and mentioned that talks had taken place during the summer, although an agreement was not reached at that time.
“Ceballos will always be an important footballer, as you said the other day, he feels at home. It’s true that there were even contacts this summer, but in the end, no agreement was reached,” said Joaquin as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.
When asked about the prospect of bringing Ceballos back in January, Joaquin was cautious but open, stating that, for now, nothing was confirmed.
“Well, right now there is nothing,” he admitted.
Ceballos is an attractive acquisition
The current situation at Betis makes the idea of signing a midfielder more pressing. With William Carvalho out for the remainder of the season and both Isco and Marc Roca injured, the need for reinforcements is clear.
Ceballos has long expressed a desire to return to Betis, and with the January window approaching, the possibility is once again being discussed.
However, Joaquin emphasised that, while Ceballos is an attractive option, nothing is definite at the moment. He also noted that, as a Real Madrid player, any move would need to be approached carefully, especially considering the complexities of the winter transfer market.
“I can’t tell you either. I think that in the end, he is always an attractive footballer. But well, right now it is true that there is nothing, that’s what I can tell you.
“Because he is a Real Madrid player and you have to be careful with those things. The winter market is also more complicated,” he said.
Doors always open
Joaquin left the door open for the midfielder’s potential return. He reiterated that Ceballos would always be welcome at Betis, acknowledging the player’s importance to the club.
“Of course, Ceballos will always be at home here and we’re talking about a different footballer.”
The ongoing speculation surrounding Ceballos’ future has become a long-standing story, one that continues to capture attention.
In conclusion, while the return of Ceballos to Betis remains uncertain for now, the club is clearly open to the possibility, and the winter transfer window could yet bring a resolution to this ongoing saga.
After a month into the new season, Aurelien Tchouameni is finally back in action for Real Madrid.
The Frenchman made his first appearance of the season for the Merengues last night against Inter Milan after recovering from the muscular injury that delayed his campaign.
His return to fitness had raised questions over where he would fit into Mourinho’s plans.
Tchouameni has been a regular in Real Madrid’s midfield for several seasons under different managers, but the end of last season was far less straightforward.
His confrontation with Federico Valverde, combined with speculation over his future at the club, created uncertainty about his position. His lack of a proper pre-season also appeared to put him behind other midfield options.
Bernardo Silva had established himself as an important figure, while Eduardo Camavinga was also ahead of Tchouameni in terms of match fitness.
With Real Madrid looking for greater creativity in midfield, there were questions over whether the Frenchman would still be a first-choice player.
Key for Mourinho
According to AS (h/t Bernabeu Digital), however, Mourinho has no such doubts. Tchouameni remains a key player for the Portuguese coach and is expected to be a starter.
Mourinho sees the French international as a midfielder without a direct replacement in the squad.
For Jose, Tchouameni provides something that none of the other midfielders in the squad do – a more defensive and positional presence, combining his tactical discipline with considerable physical strength.
His ability to shield the defence and provide balance could be particularly important for a Real Madrid side that want to defend aggressively and attack quickly in transition.
For that reason, his absence at the start of the campaign has not changed the manager’s view of his importance.
Mourinho faces a midfield selection problem
The challenge for Mourinho now is finding a way to fit all the pieces together.
If Tchouameni is guaranteed a starting position and Valverde is considered untouchable as captain, the obvious consequence is that Bernardo could find himself starting from the bench.
The summer arrival had been given an important role in helping Real Madrid control and distribute possession from deeper positions.
However, with Tchouameni and Valverde both occupying midfield places, Mourinho cannot accommodate everyone in the same lineup.
How the Portuguese coach manages that competition will be interesting to see in the coming weeks.
