Dani Ceballos completed his homecoming with his official presentation as a new Real Betis Balompié player on Wednesday. The event took place in the main hall of the Luis del Sol Sports City marking the footballer's return nine years after his departure.
President Ángel Haro welcomed the player. "Dani Ceballos is someone well known to everyone." Haro stated. Ceballos, who arrived accompanied by his new teammate Troy Parrott, expressed his nerves and excitement for this new chapter. The midfielder trained early that same morning to join up with Manuel Pellegrini's orders, despite having slept only two or three hours after recently becoming a father to twins.
What did Ceballos say about his return?
Dani Ceballos did not hide his emotion during the presentation. "I have dreamed of being here, it's true that I have never left Betis, it has always been in my heart," declared the player. He thanked numerous people at the club, including Haro, José Miguel, Manu, Joaquín, Ramón, Alexis, Víctor, Álvaro, Merino and Cañas. Ceballos described Betis as a "very big" club and expressed his desire to make it even bigger, contributing his "granito de arena" to take it as high as possible. He assured that Betis had never left him and that he had followed all their matches whenever possible. His family was an important factor in the decision to return.
How did the operation unfold?
The footballer explained that circumstances aligned this year to make his return viable, after rumours in previous seasons. He denied fearing the deal would fall through, as he maintained constant contact with the club during the process. His partner advised him to follow his heart. Only his girlfriend, mother and sister knew about the decision at the time of signing, and he could not inform his grandparents. Ceballos also had words for his former club, Real Madrid, thanking them for everything and for helping him find the mother of his daughters. His contract with the Madrid side had one year remaining.
What is Betis's current context?
Ceballos's return comes at a key moment in the season. Real Betis Balompié currently occupies seventh place in La Liga, with 6 points after three matchdays and a record of two wins and one loss. The team has scored 4 goals and conceded 5, with a -1 goal difference. In the standings, the Verdiblancos are 3 points behind leaders Barcelona. The immediate schedule is demanding, with a home match against second-placed Real Madrid on September 4th. You can check the full state of the competition on our standings page.
What does Pellegrini expect from him?
Dani Ceballos revealed that manager Manuel Pellegrini gave him a simple and direct welcome. The Chilean coach asked him to enjoy himself and conveyed that the team needs all 25 players to have a good season. Ceballos arrives to bolster a midfield seeking greater consistency. His integration will be vital for facing the busy schedule of matches, which you can follow on our fixtures calendar. The player showed his eagerness to return to the pitch to repay the fans' trust, which gives him "goosebumps".
The footballer also shared a personal detail that underscores his bond with the club. He recounted that president Ángel Haro sent membership cards for his two newborn daughters. Ceballos sent a message of encouragement to youth product Pablo García, wishing him to enjoy football and succeed in the Primera División. The midfielder is already registered and available for the next league fixture against Real Madrid.
