Message sent: Alvaro Arbeloa drops Real Madrid veteran from squad in favour of 4 youngsters

TL;DR

Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa has excluded veteran Dani Ceballos from the squad for the final six games of the season, opting for four younger players instead. This decision comes as the team aims to reduce the points gap with Barcelona.

Key points

Alvaro Arbeloa is the manager of Real Madrid.
Dani Ceballos has been left out of the squad for the last six games.
The decision to drop Ceballos is technical, not fitness-related.
Real Madrid is trying to reduce the points gap with Barcelona.
Ceballos may be in his final season with Real Madrid.

Mentioned in this story

Dani Ceballos

Real MadridReal BetisBarcelona

Message sent: Alvaro Arbeloa drops Real Madrid veteran from squad in favour of 4 youngsters

Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa has made it clear to Dani Ceballos that he is not part of his plans for the final six games of the season, as they seek to hold onto slim title hopes. The 29-year-old midfielder has been left out of Real Madrid’s squad to face Real Betis on Friday night, as they attempt to cut the gap to Barcelona back down to six points.

Ceballos, who grew up near Seville and came through the academy at Real Betis, has frequently flirted with a return to Los Verdiblancos. Potentially in his final season with Real Madrid, and his last chance to play in Seville as a Real Madrid player, Arbeloa’s decision to leave him out while fully healthy will no doubt hurt. Cadena Cope have confirmed that the decision is a technical one, rather than down to his fitness.

Ceballos left out for four youngsters

In addition to Ceballos, key midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni is missing the trip with muscle discomfort. Despite that seemingly increasing the need for midfield reinforcements, Arbeloa decided to include Castilla products Diego Aguado, who is a defender, and a trio of midfielders in Thiago Pitarch, Jorge Cestero and Manuel Angel over Ceballos.