English Premier League
Jose Mourinho reveals three-minute call behind Dani Ceballos’ Real Betis return
Jose Mourinho has revealed that a three-minute phone conversation helped bring about Dani Ceballos’ departure from Real Madrid and paved the way for the midfielder to return to Real Betis.
Mourinho discussed Ceballos’ exit ahead of Real Madrid’s La Liga meeting with Real Betis on Friday. The match, at the start of the fourth round of the league season, could see Ceballos make his first appearance for his new club against the team he has just left.
Speaking at his pre-match news conference, Mourinho explained how he told the Spain midfielder that he was not part of his plans.
“We spoke for three minutes on the phone, and I told him that I was not counting on him,” Mourinho said, according to Spanish newspaper AS.
The Real Madrid manager added that Ceballos reacted differently from players who often choose to remain at a club until their contracts expire.
“Players often hold on to their contracts, but in this case he understood the situation and said he would prefer to become a free agent and decide his future for himself,” Mourinho said.
“We reached an agreement and terminated the contract, and Ceballos became free to choose his destination.”
Real Betis officially announced on Wednesday that they had signed Ceballos on a contract running until the summer of 2029. The move completes his return to the club where his career began, nine years after he left for Real Madrid.
His comeback comes with the possibility of an immediate reunion against his former side. Real Betis will host Real Madrid on Friday evening, meaning Ceballos could make his debut in a match against the club he has represented since departing Andalusia.
The timing of the transfer has therefore created an immediate focus on Ceballos’ potential first appearance. Rather than waiting for a later fixture, the midfielder may begin his second spell with Real Betis by facing Real Madrid, with Mourinho’s comments providing further detail about the circumstances of his departure.
Mourinho’s explanation also underlines that the decision was reached through an agreement between the manager, the player and the club. According to the coach, Ceballos accepted that he was not going to feature in his plans and chose to end his contract, allowing him to determine the next step in his career as a free agent.
A separate headline accompanying the report read: “Mourinho opens fire on his player: accumulation of mistakes unacceptable.”
Ceballos’ return to Real Betis represents the latest stage of a journey that began at the Andalusian club before his move to Real Madrid nine years ago. His new deal is set to keep him at Betis until 2029, while Friday’s fixture could give him the opportunity to face his former employers almost immediately after completing the transfer.
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