Dani Ceballos: “After the lockdown, and the arrival of Arteta, we saw the Dani Ceballos we all wanted”

Dani Ceballos has been an instrumental figure for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal since the former took over the London based club at the start of the year. His form has seen him return to the Spain squad with Luis Enrique, a manager who has always thought highly of Ceballos. In a press conference ahead of the Switzerland match, Ceballos talked about his desire to return to Arsenal and his growth under Arteta.

“People always say the first year is one of transition, but after the lockdown we saw the Dani Ceballos we all wanted with the arrival of Mikel. We know the team improved and I found a position which isn’t usual for me, a bit more defensive. The Premier League takes you to the limit both physically and technically. I think I have improved a lot over the last six months”.

When asked about if a potential return to Real Madrid was on the cards this summer, the midfielder was clear on what his desire was from the outset. “After the season, I spoke with Jose Angel Sanchez. I told him I had spoken to Mikel Arteta about staying at Arsenal. Madrid told me to wait a month until the team came back to make a decision. My idea was clear to return to the club where I ended well and had the boss’s confidence,” he explained.

Ceballos went on to discuss the importance of playing ahead of a year where both the European Championships and the Olympics would be played in the summer. “You look at what’s coming next summer, the Euros and the Olympics, you need an important role in your team and after the lockdown, I found the role I had been looking for in recent years.

“When a player is totally happy both personally and footballistically, you find the right position on and off the pitch. I decided to stay for another year. I was totally happy, and I could develop my game in a totally natural way,” Ceballos concluded.