Xabi Alonso has spoken with Dani Ceballos and it's official, everyone already knows where he will play

Real Madrid keeps shaping the footballers who will make up the first team ahead of next season. Xabi Alonso has already set some priorities for the transfer market, in case the Merengue bosses decide to intervene again before the window closes for good.

One of those requests is the addition of a deep-lying playmaker, a creative midfielder with defensive qualities. The retirement of Toni Kroos and the departure of Luka Modric have left Madrid's midfield very unprotected, a problem the Tolosa coach is trying to solve with the young Arda Güler.

The Turkish midfielder is taking his first steps to become Toni Kroos's heir, but he is not yet fully settled into those dynamics. The heavy defeat against PSG exposed all the weaknesses of the new Merengue engine room, which is why Xabi Alonso insists on the urgent signing of a deep-lying playmaker.

From the Valdebebas offices, they have listed several players who fit that profile, although these are deals rooted in the European elite, with extremely high financial costs. That's why Real Madrid's coach has turned to a footballer who can fulfill the same role, already present in Santiago Bernabéu locker room for quite some time.

He could be the missing player

Dani Ceballos is now one of the players on the way out. Alongside Rodrygo Goes, the Andalusian '19' would be looking for a team to continue his career away from Spain's capital. That seemed the most logical option so far, given the changes implemented by the new coaching staff.

Xabi Alonso himself has wanted to count on his footballing services, even though he can't offer him a starting spot. The discreet approaches from Real Betis have not prevented Dani Ceballos from keeping the door open to his continuity in the first team: he has a contract until 2027.

Taking advantage of that situation, Xabi Alonso has made it clear that he is counting on the Utrera-born midfielder. Unless there is a last-minute surprise involving Real Betis or another team not yet known, Dani Ceballos's future is at Real Madrid. That is what his coach has requested, who plans to use the entire squad as much as possible.

The executives led by Florentino Pérez do not oppose that decision by Xabi Alonso, but they are alert to any offer sent for the '19'. If Ceballos decides to leave the team before the start of the season, there will be nothing to do... even though the Tolosa coach has stated that he is counting on him.