Overview
- ESPN reports Ceballos paused an agreed loan-to-buy switch to Marseille, with a mandatory fee around €15 million, to pursue a return to Real Betis.
- Marseille had Ceballos’ green light and advanced talks with Madrid, but the French club could step aside after the player’s change of heart.
- Alonso has opposed a loan exit without a replacement and prefers to keep Ceballos unless a suitable signing is secured, according to Cadena SER and ESPN.
- Madrid’s options if Ceballos departs include Adam Wharton as a costly first choice, Kees Smit as a lower-fee alternative, or promoting 18-year-old Thiago Pitarch.
- With the Sept. 1 deadline approaching and injuries affecting midfield depth, Madrid must decide whether to finalize a sale or retain Ceballos for the short term.