Dani Ceballos is close to completing his return to Real Betis, with the final details of a three-year contract understood to have been agreed between the player and the club.
The deal could be signed within the next few hours, although Betis still need to resolve several financial and squad-management issues before they can complete the move. The uncertainty comes as the summer transfer window approaches its deadline.
According to AS, the long-running story involving Ceballos and Real Betis is nearing its conclusion. The midfielder has pushed to leave Real Madrid despite having one year remaining on his contract, while Betis are working against time to create enough room within their wage budget to bring him back.
The terms of Ceballos’ contract have been settled. The agreement was initially expected to be a long-term deal following the end of his spell with Real Madrid, but it has since been adjusted to take account of Betis’ unexpected financial requirements this summer.
Under the revised arrangement, Ceballos will sign for three years, with an option for a further season. The contract would make him one of the highest-paid players in the Betis squad, although not the club’s top earner.
Betis have spent the past 24 hours attempting to free up the necessary financial space. Their efforts include trying to move on Losada, secure the highest possible fee for Pablo Garcia and find a player capable of competing with Alvaro Vidalgo for a place in the squad.
Those moves are intended to achieve several objectives at once: create room in the wage bill for Ceballos, register him with the club and allow Betis to sign the defensive midfielder strongly wanted by manager Manuel Pellegrini.
The process will not be straightforward, but there is a positive mood within Betis that the transfer can still be completed. The club have even considered personally overseeing some of the negotiations to ensure the relevant deals are concluded successfully.
Ceballos could sign for Betis after the summer transfer window closes because he would be a free agent. However, there is a significant doubt over whether he will be able to play for the club in the Champions League.
UEFA require clubs to submit their lists of players for the competition by Wednesday, meaning the timing of Ceballos’ registration could prove decisive. Even if the Spain international formally completes his move after the deadline, it is considered unlikely that he will be included in Betis’ Champions League squad.
The immediate priority for the club is therefore to complete the remaining departures and related financial adjustments quickly. If those steps are successful, Ceballos’ return to Real Betis should be close to completion, ending a summer of negotiations between the player, Real Madrid and his boyhood club.
