Transfer: Tug of war – Ceballos on why he snubbed Barcelona for Real Madrid

Real Madrid midfielder, Dani Ceballos has explained why he snubbed a move to Barcelona for Los Blancos back in 2017.

Ceballos, 26, was an emerging talent at Real Betis at that time when both Real Madrid and Barcelona looked to sign him.

In an interview with Universo Valdano, Ceballos revealed that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez played a big role in his decision to join the La Liga champions instead of Barcelona, insisting that he was in a ‘tug of war’ between both top Spanish clubs.

He said, “I was [in a] tug of war with Real Madrid and Barcelona, but it was fundamental when Florentino [Perez] called me. No player is capable of saying ‘no’ to Real Madrid.

“It was he [Perez] who convinced me on a sporting level. He told me that he was the future of [Real] Madrid’s midfield and that he wanted me to play here. I hung up the call and immediately told my parents, ‘tomorrow we go to Madrid and sign.’”