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Real Madrid News Dani Ceballos reveals what he told Jose Mourinho before leaving Real Madrid: ‘Needed to bring things full circle’ Dani Ceballos has opened up about his decision to leave Real Madrid and return to Real Betis, revealing that he personally spoke to Jose Mourinho before completing his move back to his boyhood club. Ceballos officially joined Betis on a three-year contract after terminating his Real Madrid agreement earlier this summer. Despite having a deal with the Spanish giants until 2027, the midfielder was allowed to leave on a free transfer. Notably, there was no bitterness in Ceballos’ assessment of his departure. Instead, during his official presentation, he thanked Real Madrid, president Florentino Perez and Mourinho for helping him close the final chapter of his career at the Santiago Bernabeu. Ceballos reveals Mourinho conversation Ceballos explained that negotiations were not necessarily straightforward, but said he ultimately felt reassured by what Real Madrid told him. Dani Ceballos, nuevo jugador del Real Betis Balompié 💚🔝 — Real Betis Balompié 🌴💚 (@RealBetis) September 1, 2026 ¡Bienvenido de nuevo a casa, @DaniCeballos46! 👏 ➡ https://t.co/r5wiEAmbYP pic.twitter.com/T3PBCOzGhK The midfielder also confirmed that he spoke directly with Mourinho to explain why he wanted to leave. “There are always complications, but I felt reassured by what the club told me. I trusted them, and I’m here, happy and grateful. And I can only thank Real Madrid. “It’s true I had a year left on my contract, but there are chapters that need to be closed. I was able to speak to the club and to Mourinho. “I explained my situation to him – I needed to bring things full circle. I have to thank the president because he made it easy,” said Ceballos. Why Ceballos chose Betis over Madrid The return to Betis carries obvious personal significance for Ceballos. He came through the club’s academy and made his first-team debut before moving to Real Madrid in 2017. Almost a decade later, he has returned to Seville with the chance to begin another chapter at the club where his professional journey started. 𝑫𝒖𝒍𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒖𝒆𝒏̃𝒐𝒔. pic.twitter.com/EF6vZ1lBOw — Real Betis Balompié 🌴💚 (@RealBetis) September 2, 2026 The midfielder also spoke emotionally about the people and experiences that shaped his time at Madrid. “I can only thank Real Madrid for everything they’ve done for me, including helping me find the mother of my children – a wonderful family… “I’ve had loads of messages. I remember the years when it wasn’t possible, and now I have the satisfaction of returning home almost 10 years later. “I remember everyone who helped and supported me,” he concluded. Ceballos’ words offer an interesting perspective on an exit that could easily have become complicated given his contract situation. Real Madrid had no obligation to release a player who was tied down until 2027, yet the club ultimately allowed him to depart for free. Source: Defensa Central Real Madrid News Real Madrid latest signing makes positive impression in first training session with senior team Sergio Martinez was Real Madrid’s final signing of the summer transfer window, and while it may seem like he is the least known of the club’s many big signings, his arrival could prove very impactful. After all, the midfield has been a shortcoming in the squad for a long time now, and Martinez could well be a long-term solution in that regard. As one of Spain’s most highly rated young talents in the middle of the field, his acquisition by Real Madrid was not one for the immediate future but for the long haul. Initial impressions are promising As reported by AS in a recent update, Sergio Martinez’s initial impressions of Valdebebas have been extremely positive and promising. The club officials explain that after watching Martinez train alongside the first-team players, it is clear that the player has high potential and quality. There is still, however, a wait to decide on what Real Madrid’s plan with Martinez is for this season. They do, indeed, have high hopes for him for the future, but it is unclear if he will have regular first-team prominence this season or be restricted to the subsidiary team. A step down Sergio Martinez already made his debut in this season’s La Liga with the recently promoted Racing Santander before his move to Real Madrid. Now set to be a part of the Castilla team’s dynamics, however, the player will be forced to play several divisions lower than the first team and the level he was playing at. Needless to say, that comes as a massive blow to the player’s development, and was even one of the reasons why he was hesitating to join Los Blancos this summer. Eventually, he decided to take the gamble and swap a regular spot in a La Liga side for a place in Real Madrid’s Castilla side, all in the hope of making it big and earning a first-team number. He is already training regularly under Jose Mourinho, and his development is being closely tracked. A first-team debut this season cannot be ruled out.