Ceballos to Be Out for Two Months Due to Right Ankle Injury

The injury woes continue for Real Madrid. Dani Ceballos has sustained a grade III sprain with ligament involvement in his right ankle, which will keep him sidelined for around two months. The Utrera-born midfielder, who was the surprise inclusion in Carlo Ancelotti's starting eleven on Sunday against Betis, was injured during the match, leaving the Italian coach with one less option in midfield.

Ceballos faces another setback just when it seemed a door was opening for him after a challenging start to the season where he saw limited playing time, prompting the Sevillian to consider leaving Real Madrid in the final days of the transfer window. After eight seasons with the Chamartín club, including two on loan at Arsenal, a potential return to Betis was on the cards but ultimately did not materialize due to the cost of the operation for the Verdiblancos.

Having been a substitute in the first four matches of the season, playing only seven minutes, Ceballos was included in Ancelotti's starting eleven against Betis. The Italian coach, deeply involved in a midfield reshuffle that has already seen Modric and Arda Güler take part after Bellingham's injury following the Mallorca match, turned to Ceballos on Sunday in search of the balance once provided by the now-retired Toni Kroos. Ceballos performed his assigned role commendably until Carletto opted to substitute him in the 65th minute for Brahim to inject more dynamism into the attack. Before his substitution, Ceballos unsuccessfully appealed for a penalty after an alleged foul by Sabaly.

"He gives us much more solidity in the middle," Ancelotti commented on Ceballos' performance against Betis. However, this performance will not have continuity once Real Madrid returns to action after the international break due to Ceballos' injury.

Ceballos had suffered a similar injury three years ago that even led him to contemplate retirement, although it was his left ankle affected then and not his right as now. On that occasion, Ceballos sustained a complete rupture of the anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligaments during Spain's debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics against Egypt. His recovery period began on August 10, 2021, and he spent 149 days out of action. He was not fit for selection until December 19 of that year, and he made his return to play on January 5, 2022, when Ancelotti gave him four minutes in a Copa del Rey match against Alcoyano, which ended with a 3-1 victory for Real Madrid.

Ceballos' absence further depletes Real Madrid's midfield, which has already lost three midfielders to injury this season. The first was Eduardo Camavinga, who got injured in the last training session before the UEFA Super Cup. Then Jude Bellingham also picked up an injury during training just as La Liga began. The Englishman is expected to be available after the international break, and Camavinga, who was diagnosed with about two months out, should not be far from returning.