Real Madrid News
Real Madrid will offer new deal to Spaniard, but without improvement in salary or status
The past couple of months have been special for Dani Ceballos. From a state of absolute ruins, the Spanish midfielder has resurrected his career with high-level performances on the field, even prompting the Santiago Bernabeu faithful to chant his name.
A few months ago, a renewal at Real Madrid seemed to be an impossible proposition for Ceballos. Now, it is no longer seen with ambiguity as Carlo Ancelotti highly values the player’s profile. However, there is a catch.
According to reports from El Mundo, Real Madrid’s contract extension offer is imminent. However, it will not change his status in the team or his salary.
Ceballos wishes to play regularly, a condition that looks increasingly difficult at Real Madrid even if he renews. An extension would see him be at the club of his dreams, yet very far from the starter tag he desires.
The board and management at Real Madrid highly value the new generation of midfielders in Aurelien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga and see them as the torchbearers of ‘modern football’. The possible arrival of Jude Bellingham will add another name high up the pecking order.
Further, with Toni Kroos and Luka Modric’s renewals progressing in the right direction, there is a sense that Ceballos will be the fifth or even sixth-choice midfielder next season despite his bright form.
His contract with Real Madrid ends in the summer, and a decision must be made swiftly. In the end, the choice comes down to two options – guaranteed playing time or a spot on the Real Madrid bench.
Ceballos has played 13 of the team’s last 14 games including eight appearances as a starter. Over the last 45 days, he has managed one goal and five assists and is even expected to start later tonight against Osasuna.
It has not been a great start to the year for Real Madrid. Barring a win over Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League, the Spanish giants have been humiliated by their arch-rivals Barcelona three times while dropping points carelessly in La Liga.
With 12 points dividing the two teams at the top of the table, there is not much hope for Real Madrid, in their bid to retain the title.
Unsurprisingly, this has led to immense pressure on Carlo Ancelotti, who is facing a fightback against those who want him gone at the end of the season.
In the midst of this chaos, a recent report from MARCA states that Real Madrid may once again endure a relatively calm transfer market in the coming summer.
It appears the club have no desire to make too many signings in the summer and are set to go into the 2023/24 campaign without any major reinforcements.
It is no doubt that Real Madrid’s poor performances have highlighted the team’s lack of depth and the need for reinforcements. Especially in the attacking and the defensive department, the club clearly need more depth as they often rely on their existing stars.
But it appears Real Madrid are calm about the issue and do not want to take any risks in the coming summer. Even before the start of the 2022/23 season, Aurelien Tchouameni was the club’s only notable signing, much to the disappointment of Ancelotti.
Recent reports have hinted that Real Madrid’s transfer activity would rely on who becomes the coach in the summer. But the club’s static approach to the market in 2023 could make sense, given the club that the Spanish giants are targeting star players such as Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.
All of the three aforementioned stars are either available or would be available on a cut-price deal in 2024. Erling Haaland, for one, has a special release clause in his contract that can be activated in 2024, even though Manchester City are actively looking to remove it.
Mbappe, too, has his contract at PSG expiring at the end of the 2023/24 season, so it will be interesting to see how Real Madrid go about their business in the coming summer.
