Ajax drop out in the race to sign recently-departed Real Madrid midfielder amid Atletico Madrid interest

Ajax drop out in the race to sign recently-departed Real Madrid midfielder amid Atletico Madrid interest

The future of Dani Ceballos has become a key question mark this summer after his contract at Real Madrid was terminated earlier in the summer.

The Spaniard is looking for a new club and has been linked with a move to Atletico Madrid and Ajax, in addition to his boyhood club Real Betis.

Ceballos may not have fought for a place in the Real Madrid eleven, but he certainly has what it takes to play at the highest level.

Ajax drop out in the Ceballos race

Ceballos had no future at Real Madrid. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

According to MARCA , Ajax have definitively withdrawn from negotiations to sign Ceballos, bringing weeks of intense contact and waiting to a close.

The Dutch club had grown tired of failing to receive a positive response from the midfielder, and their management ultimately decided to walk away from the negotiating table altogether.

With that, Ajax have severed ties completely, leaving Ceballos to explore other options for his future.

It is a frustrating outcome given how advanced matters had appeared. Ajax had reached a preliminary financial agreement with Real Madrid for the transfer while the player remained under contract at the Bernabeu. However, the deal never came to fruition.

Why the move collapsed

The primary obstacle centred on Ceballos and his reluctance to commit to the move.

The midfielder struggled to terminate his contract with Real Madrid, an administrative hurdle that complicated any potential departure.

On top of that, Ceballos harboured persistent doubts about the switch, never fully convinced that Ajax represented the ideal destination to continue his career.

Two players who have left Real Madrid this summer. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

That lack of resolve ultimately proved decisive. Weary of the uncertainty and unwilling to keep their proposal on the table indefinitely without a clear answer, Ajax opted to move on.

What next for Ceballos?

The collapse leaves Ceballos in a tricky position as he searches for a resolution to his future.

Real Madrid remain keen to move him on, with the Spaniard having spent much of the last few summers exploring a potential exit.

His contract expires in 2027, and the club would ideally prefer to cash in rather than risk losing him for nothing further down the line.

For now, though, Ceballos must weigh up his alternatives. With Ajax out of the picture, it will be interesting to see if a return to Real Betis is still on the cards.

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