Real star opens up on time at Arsenal and future transfer

Joe Williams
Arsenal Dani Ceballos
Arsenal Dani Ceballos

Dani Ceballos says he has been “lucky” to be able to play in the Premier League with Arsenal but insists he doesn’t want to go “on loan to any club again”.

The Spain midfielder has spent the last two seasons at the Emirates Stadium, making 49 Premier League appearances for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Ceballos, 24, had found first-team opportunities limited at Real Madrid before joining the Gunners in 2019 on a season-long loan – a move that was then replicated for the current campaign.


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The Spaniard confirmed his Arsenal exit on Monday by sending a goodbye message to fans on social media.

On his time in the Premier League with Arsenal, Ceballos told Canal Sur Radio (via Marca): “The Premier League is a very attractive league, I was lucky to be able to play it last season and win the FA Cup, and this second season has helped me to consolidate myself.

“I am very happy because I have learned a lot, I have become a better player, more complete, and I think that although my stage has not closed as we would have liked, with another title, I am very happy with the experience.

“It is true that I have a contract with Real Madrid for the next two years and I would not like to go on loan to any club again. With the experience of the last two years, I am a player who needs to feel important, I would like next year starting from the beginning and feeling important, but settling down. So, it’s important going forward to know what you want to do.

“I think that the player achieves his maximum level when he is completely happy and for that he has to be 100% focused on his club.

“I am 24 years old, I am a very young player, with a lot of future still ahead of me, and the truth is that my expectations are clear: to settle in a club, feel important and enjoy football.”

With Zinedine Zidane leaving Real Madrid this week, Ceballos is unsure where he stands, he added: “It is true that with Zizou I had fewer opportunities than I had thought, but now Madrid is without a coach.

“We do not know what will happen in two or three weeks, there is talk of many things and I think that right now is time to disconnect a bit from football, prepare well for what is coming and when Madrid have their next coach, let’s talk and see what we want, it will be time to decide the future.”

On whether he could return to Real Betis, Ceballos continued: “Betis has a very good squad, I don’t know what Pellegrini and Cordón are planning for next year.

“It’s still early and I have to focus on my next goal, which is to play the Olympics now. From there, decide my future.”