Having come very close to a signing last summer, Dani Ceballos had ultimately stood up Olympique de Marseille. The Phocaean club nevertheless came back for the Real Madrid midfielder, who is not being retained with one year left on his contract.

It is hard to say whether Ceballos, 29, regrets his reversal. That is not certain given Marseille's season. In any case, the midfielder probably would have been better off leaving Real Madrid last summer.

Whether with Xabi Alonso or under the orders of his successor, Alvaro Arbeloa, the midfielder has never been able to establish himself in the Madrid starting lineup. Evidence of this is his seven small starts this season across all competitions.

With such limited playing time, even if he has not expressed his feelings in the media, one can easily imagine the disappointment of the Spanish international (13 caps). Marseille guessed this in the winter.

Stood up by Ceballos last summer, the Phocaean club came back again, putting its resentment aside. This second attempt yielded nothing. But the Velodrome resident may not have said its final word on this matter, which was reignited by journalist Fabrizio Romano.

According to the transfer market specialist, the Merengue should leave the Casa Blanca this summer. Nothing surprising, given that the substitute is one year away from the end of his contract.

Ajax Amsterdam sees an opportunity to sign him at an interesting price, as do two other clubs, whose identities have not yet been revealed. Could Marseille be among those two mysterious admirers? Remember that the Marseille front office will be composed of new decision-makers who may cross off previously explored leads.

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