Betis Eye Ambitious Bid to Bring Real Madrid Midfielder Back as Injured Isco Faces Several Months Out

Dani Ceballos Return Talk Heats Up After Betis Star’s Shock Injury

When Real Betis walked off the pitch last week after a pre-season friendly, they had little reason to expect their plans for the upcoming La Liga campaign would be thrown into disarray. But football has a way of rewriting scripts overnight. A few days later came the news: Isco, their talismanic playmaker and one of the key figures in last season’s push for Europe, had suffered a non-displaced fracture to his left fibula.

The injury means months on the sidelines for the former Real Madrid star — a blow that could derail much of what Betis had been building. And so, with the season about to kick off, attention in Seville has turned sharply toward one man: Dani Ceballos.

A Story That Never Really Went Away

The idea of Ceballos returning to Betis is nothing new. Since the midfielder’s 2017 switch to Real Madrid, whispers of a comeback have surfaced in nearly every transfer window. He left as a prodigy, adored by the Betis faithful, and while his career at the Bernabéu has brought three Champions League medals and plenty of high-level experience, it’s also been stop-start — interrupted by injuries and fierce competition for places in Madrid’s star-studded midfield.

This time, though, the stars might be aligning. According to Mundo Deportivo, Ceballos has formally asked to leave Real Madrid this summer in a bid to return to his boyhood club.

The Isco Factor

Real Madrid CF v RCD Mallorca – La Liga EA Sports

What makes this summer different is the sheer urgency Betis now face. Losing Isco for several months doesn’t just create a gap in the squad — it rips away their primary creative outlet. Under Manuel Pellegrini, Betis have thrived on controlling games through intelligent ball movement and moments of individual brilliance in the final third. Without Isco, that vision is much harder to execute.

Ceballos, in many ways, is a natural stand-in. His comfort on the ball, ability to dictate tempo, and knack for threading passes through tight defensive lines make him a logical replacement. And then there’s the emotional element: for Betis fans, a homecoming for Ceballos would be more than a tactical fix — it would be a symbolic return of one of their own.

The Financial Hurdle

Of course, football is rarely that simple. Real Madrid are reportedly asking for up to €20 million (£17m / $23m) for Ceballos. For a club like Betis, who operate with a much smaller budget than Spain’s giants, that’s a significant figure.

President Ángel Haro has already warned supporters that Betis “won’t pay a huge transfer fee” for any player, no matter how sentimental or strategic the signing might be. The club’s preference is to negotiate a much lower fee, potentially with performance-related add-ons, or explore a loan arrangement.

Ceballos himself might help make the move possible. Reports suggest he’s willing to take a pay cut to return to Seville — a gesture that would not go unnoticed among the fans and board alike.

Ceballos’ Situation at Madrid

Despite his loyalty and professionalism, Ceballos’ role at Real Madrid has always been a tricky one. With Luka Modrić, Toni Kroos, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Federico Valverde all in the mix, minutes are hard to come by.

His current contract runs until 2027, which technically gives Madrid little pressure to sell — but it also means his transfer value is still protected. For the player, though, the equation is simpler: he wants to play, he wants to be trusted, and he wants to be somewhere that feels like home.

Why the Move Makes Sense for Betis

Real Sociedad v Real Madrid – Copa del Rey

From a footballing perspective, the logic is straightforward: Ceballos knows the club, understands the fans, and fits the tactical blueprint. Pellegrini prefers midfielders who can operate between the lines and keep possession under pressure — something Ceballos has been trained to do at the highest level.

In addition, Betis’ attacking players — including Borja Iglesias, Ayoze Pérez, and Luiz Henrique — could all benefit from the kind of service Ceballos provides. Without Isco, the risk is that Betis become too predictable, relying on wide play without enough creativity through the middle. Ceballos’ arrival could help maintain the balance that made them so competitive last season.

Why the Move is Tricky for Madrid

For Real Madrid, selling Ceballos is not without risk. While he isn’t a regular starter, he’s a valuable squad player who can step in when injuries hit — something that happens often in a long season competing across multiple fronts. With Modrić and Kroos both nearing the twilight of their careers, Madrid might prefer to keep Ceballos as a bridge to the next generation.

However, there’s also a pragmatic side to Madrid’s transfer policy. If the player is pushing for a move and a reasonable offer comes in, they’ve shown a willingness to do business. The challenge here is whether Betis can match that definition of “reasonable.”

The Emotional Undercurrent

What makes this potential transfer particularly compelling is the emotional weight behind it. For Betis supporters, Ceballos isn’t just another signing — he’s a product of their academy, a local boy who made it big but never quite severed his ties to home.

A return would carry echoes of other high-profile homecomings in football: the kind that reignite stadium atmospheres and sell shirts before a ball is even kicked. After the Isco blow, a signing like Ceballos could restore optimism and energy in both the dressing room and the stands.

What Happens Next

The timeline here is tight. Betis open their La Liga campaign against Elche next week, and Pellegrini will want as much clarity as possible on his squad before then. Every day without a resolution makes it harder for a new signing to settle in, learn the system, and build chemistry with teammates.

For Betis, the ideal scenario is to reach an agreement with Madrid before the opening weekend. That might require compromise on both sides — perhaps a structured payment deal or loan with an obligation to buy.

Final Thoughts

This is one of those transfers that feels both inevitable and impossibly complicated at the same time. The pieces are all there: a player who wants to come home, a club that needs him, and a fan base ready to welcome him back with open arms. The only barrier is the financial gulf between what Real Madrid want and what Real Betis can pay.

If Betis can bridge that gap, they’ll not only solve their immediate Isco-shaped problem but also give themselves a huge morale boost heading into the season. If they can’t, Pellegrini will have to find another way to keep his side’s creative spark alive.

Either way, the next couple of weeks promise to be tense — and for Betis fans, the dream of seeing Dani Ceballos back in green and white is alive once again.