Ceballos set for Real return

Dani Ceballos will return to Real Madrid after his loan spell at Arsenal ends and his future will be decided then, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The midfielder left the Spanish capital in search of regular game-time in 2019, on an initial one-season loan to Arsenal, who had the option of turning the deal into a permanent one last year, but they chose not to pay the fee defined in the agreement and moved for another loan instead.

There had been reports suggesting Arsenal contemplated possibilities to sign Ceballos permanently this summer, but it seems the decision for the player to return to Madrid was made ‘weeks ago’.

Ceballos apparently failed to comply with manager Mikel Arteta’s instructions in Arsenal’s defeat to Villarreal in the first leg of the Europa League semifinal on Thursday, and his involvement ended in the 57th minute when he was sent off for a second yellow card.