Marseille finding Rabiot replacement in Real?

The end. It’s not official yet, but it’s clear to everyone: Dani Ceballos is finished with Real Madrid. On the night of the royal club’s victory over Oviedo (2–0), the 29-year-old midfielder posted a message on social media that can only be interpreted one way. His “The last dance” means he will no longer play for the club from the Spanish capital. It became clear after the new coach, Xabi Alonso, gave him only four minutes in the closing stages of the first two La Liga matches. Under Carlo Ancelotti, Ceballos played more, and once he realized his status had worsened, his desire to leave only grew stronger.

Betis had long wanted Ceballos, seeing him as a solution in midfield—at least until Isco recovers from yet another injury. And even when Isco returns, Dani would give Manuel Pellegrini more options in rotation. However… The club, which has been steadily growing for years and is considered a healthy environment—and where Ceballos came through the ranks before moving to Real—has prioritized bringing back Antonio. They’ve been trying all along to negotiate with Manchester’s board for the Brazilian’s return, and it’s clear they can’t afford both.

New war in France: De Zerbi vs Rabiot's mom!

That situation is what Marseille will try to take advantage of. At the Velodrome, they’ve launched an effort to bring in a player who has made nearly 200 appearances in a Real Madrid shirt. Reaching an agreement with him shouldn’t be a problem. The harder part is paying Real Madrid’s transfer fee, but it’s believed both sides could settle on a sum of around 20,000,000 euros. If that happens—and the signs suggest it will—Dani Ceballos would replace Adrien Rabiot in Roberto De Zerbi’s team, with the Frenchman on his way out after recent incidents. At Marseille, things are constantly “boiling over”—it’s no exaggeration to say chaos is everywhere—and it will be interesting to see how Ceballos copes in such an environment. Many haven’t managed to.