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Dani Ceballos has had a mixed time at Arsenal.
The Real Madrid midfielder moved to the Emirates on loan at the start of the season and, after a bright start faded, as did most of the team under Unai Emery.
An Achilles injury picked up on Europa League duty did not help his progress and, when he was able to pay again until Mikel Arteta, there were questions about his application in training. However, he forced his way into the side, and was playing well before football was halted by the Covid-19 virus.
Despite this, he is likely to return to Real in the summer. His loan deal with the Gunners did not contain an option to buy, and the North London club have not seen enough to pay the £40 million the Spanish club are likely to ask for him.
And, given his prospects of first-team football at the Bernabeu next season are likely to be limited, Ceballos favours a return to his old club Real Betis, aware that he needs to be playing regularly to make the Spanish squad for the rescheduled Euros next year.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.