Olympique Marseille are pushing hard to reshape their midfield, and their latest target comes with pedigree. The French club has opened talks with Real Madrid over Dani Ceballos, the Spanish international who has struggled to carve out a consistent role at the Bernabéu.
Discussions remain at an early stage, and sources close to the negotiations caution that the deal will not be simple. Madrid are not desperate to part with Ceballos, who remains under contract, but Marseille’s interest has been genuine enough to bring both sides to the table. The framework under discussion is a loan move with an option to buy—a formula that would limit risk for the French side while giving Ceballos a chance to reignite his career in Ligue 1.
The 28-year-old has endured a frustrating spell in Spain. Since arriving at Madrid from Real Betis in 2017, Ceballos has been caught between moments of promise and stretches of limited playing time. A loan stint at Arsenal between 2019 and 2021 provided glimpses of his ability in the Premier League, but back at Madrid, his path to regular minutes has been blocked by the club’s embarrassment of midfield riches.
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Marseille, however, could offer him something different: a stage of his own. The club is in the midst of a rebuild, and their pursuit of Ceballos underscores an intent to blend European experience with youthful energy. The player himself will be pivotal in the decision. Having grown restless on the fringes of Madrid’s lineup, he may now weigh the benefits of a move that guarantees more responsibility and, crucially, playing time.
For Marseille, the attraction is obvious. Ceballos is technically gifted, tactically versatile, and experienced in both La Liga and European competition. If the clubs can settle on terms—and if the midfielder is convinced of the project—this could prove one of the more intriguing moves of the French window.
For now, the negotiations continue, with all sides aware that Ceballos holds the final say on whether his next chapter will be written in Marseille blue.
