'I don't want to stay at Real Madrid unless I deserve it' claims midfielder

Stuart Telford

• 14 Mar 2023 13:43 CDT
• 3 min read

In Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Dani Ceballos, Real Madrid have a whole host of midfielders who are out of contract in the summer.

Kroos and Modric were two thirds of Real Madrid's magnificent midfield trio, with Casemiro, that won three consecutive Champions Leagues between 2016 and 2018.

Casemiro was allowed to leave in an €80 million transfer to Manchester United last summer, but the other two continue to get their game, even though both are the wrong side of 30 - with Modric 37.

READ: Real Madrid's 10 best transfers of all time

Real have also moved to rejuvenate in the position in recent seasons, paying €100m for Aurelien Tchouameni last summer and €31m for his France international teammate Eduardo Camavinga the year before.

All of which looked pretty ominous for Ceballos, who had a two-year loan at Arsenal between 2019 and 2021 with first-team opportunities at a premium.

Ceballos: 'I want to be wanted'

The Spain international has made 29 appearances in all competitions this season, though, and is working hard to extend his stay at the Santiago Bernabeu.

READ: When does the contract of every Real Madrid player expire?

"I want to be judged by what I do on the pitch," he said in an interview with AS. "I don't want a new contract if I don't deserve it and I don't want to go to another club if I don't deserve it. I want to enjoy the next three months.

"When I sit down with my agent, my family, and evaluate everything, I don't necessarily want the biggest contract. I want the club and the board to decide that I'm important for them. For now I just have to take advantage of the minutes I'm getting at Madrid."

Ceballos' minutes could be compromised if Madrid sign their primary transfer target in Jude Bellingham next summer. Borussia Dortmund want significantly more than €100m for the England international's services.