Dani Ceballos has indicated that he intends to stay with Arsenal on a permanent basis following the notice from Real Madrid that the latter's game plan does not include him. On loan to the Gunners, the midfielder has made known that in moving from his parent team his priority will be to join the North London club. officially
However, it seemed that the transfer would not be as easy as the Spain international had imagined. Real president Florentino Perez has turned down the offer laid down by Arsenal. The English club, according to Football Espana, is willing to part with €30 million for the right to acquire Ceballos.
The thumbing down from Perez was not unexpected as it has been reported that for the Spanish giants to let go of Ceballos, they would want to triple the amount paid when the midfielder was purchased from Real Betis to the tune of €14 million.
It can be said that at the moment, negotiations between the two clubs are unlikely to progress as Metro said Real will likely hold off on the talks and wait on the likelihood that Ceballos will pick up more value while suiting up for Arsenal.
Per the same report, Ceballos has been a consistent performer for the Gunners, and it is not remote that his price will increase with appearances lined up for him by Arsenal boss Unai Emery. Add to that is the obvious preference given by Emery to the Spaniard.
For Real, it could mean a better bargaining chip in asking for a higher price on Ceballos.
In the end, though, the Spanish club could remove the "For Sale" tag on Ceballos, that is, if the rumors will prove correct that Zinedine Zidane would get the boot and his job to be handed to Jose Mourinho, formerly the man in charge at Manchester United.
It has been known Zidane was the reason Ceballos was not favored at Santiago Bernabeu, but the atmosphere could change if the Frenchman exits. It might be that Mourinho will find a better use of the midfielder instead of sending him away.
In any case, Ceballos has not been shy about professing that playing for Arsenal "has been a very important step in my career."
"I don't feel sorry for not being in Madrid. Right now I am where I want to be and I am very happy. My idea was to go out, play and enjoy football," the Spaniard was reported by Mirror as saying.
