Arsenal midfielder wants Real Madrid return

Dani Ceballos is keen on a Real Madrid return once his loan deal with Arsenal ends. 

The Spain international moved to the Gunners last summer on a season-long loan switch, though there was no option to make the move permanent. 

Ceballos started the season strongly, yet injuries curtailed his playing time and has restricted the midfielder to just 10 league starts. 

The 23-year-old requested to leave Arsenal in January and secure a switch elsewhere, but the move was ultimately blocked. 

Ceballos then became a key player under head coach Mikel Arteta as he looked to make a name for himself in London. 

However, while Arteta would want to keep Ceballos in north London, the Spaniard is eager to return to Los Blancos at the end of the season. 

"I haven’t spoken to Zidane since I left," Ceballos told Movistar via The Metro.  

"It has to be difficult to have a dressing room with so many players. I don’t think Zidane talks to the loan players.  

"Hopefully [I will play for Real Madrid again]. I now have a contract with Arsenal. At the moment in Madrid it is difficult to play with the players that are there. Now I am focused on being important at a club." 

That said, Ceballos has admitted he has learned plenty from Arteta during their short time together, adding: "It is what I think because I identify with his way of playing, although in Arsenal in three months I have learned a lot with Mikel Arteta."