Ceballos gets dream ovation on Betis return: "Now this club is a giant of Spain"

Dani Ceballos had already been back at La Cartuja since rejoining Betis, but he was still missing the moment he had spent almost a decade waiting for: playing in front of the home crowd wearing the green and white shirt. That moment finally arrived on Monday against Getafe, and the reception could not have been warmer. Far from any grudge, the Utrera-born midfielder was met with a huge, largely positive ovation that made his return home a special night, capped by a hard-fought win thanks to a goal from Abde.

• Ceballos came on at La Cartuja against Getafe and received a warm, largely positive ovation from the home crowd.
• The midfielder said the current Betis side is "a giant of Spain" and that he is back at his best moment as a footballer.
• Ceballos admitted he is at around 70% and plans to use the international break to build match fitness.
• Dani said he is a completely different player to the one who left in 2017, now more mature and emotionally stable.

How the Betis crowd welcomed Ceballos at La Cartuja

There was some uncertainty about how Betis supporters would respond to a player who left the club under controversy in 2017. Ceballos admitted after the match that he expected applause, but still had a few doubts about possible whistles. He did not need his football to change anyone's mind: the stands appreciated the effort of a player who waited until the last day, turning down other offers, to put the green and white shirt back on.

"It was a reunion after a long time, but the most important thing is the win. It is a special day for me because of how the people received me and I am very happy. Now it is up to me to repay that confidence on the pitch."

Betis, "a giant of Spain"

Ceballos did not hide his admiration for the growth the club has experienced during his absence. The midfielder spent seven years in Madrid and two in London, but he never lost contact with the club of his life. Social media messages, visits to private boxes at the Benito Villamarín and La Cartuja, and permanent contact with the sporting management, Joaquín and several of his current teammates kept the bond alive. Now he wants to close that unfinished story with a happy ending.

His reading of the current Betis is emphatic. Ceballos said he left a great club, but that he is now looking at a giant of Spanish football. He highlighted the competitiveness of a squad with 25 players in impressive form, although he asked for everyone to keep their feet on the ground and show respect for every opponent.

A different Ceballos, on and off the pitch

The player returning to Heliópolis is nothing like the kid who packed his bags as a promising talent. Ceballos comes back at 30, now a father of two newborn girls. He admits he is completely different on a personal level: he enjoys solid emotional stability and a family that gives him balance. His football has also changed. While he used to be able to play in several positions, he now feels far more comfortable in a double pivot or just behind the striker.

On his debut at La Cerámica he did not miss a single pass: twenty attempts, twenty successful deliveries. Against Getafe, replacing Isco with half an hour to go, he brought order and composure to sustain the long spells of possession his coach wanted, defusing any attempt by the visitors to mount a comeback. One dangerous ball lost through overconfidence, perhaps a product of debut nerves, had no consequences for a Betis side that picked up three important points.

Ceballos sees himself at 70% and weighs in on the Ballon d'Or

The Utrera native was honest about his physical condition. With only seven or eight training sessions with the group and thirty minutes of match action, he puts himself at around 70%. The international break will give him the chance to stack up training sessions and play more minutes in a friendly as he works toward his best version. Ceballos believes that from there, the player Betis went out to sign will start to appear.

He also wanted to share his view on the Ballon d'Or race. The Betis academy product backed two names: Fabián Ruiz, who he feels has a strong case after winning practically everything at collective level, and Kylian Mbappé as the alternative if the prize does not go to the Spanish midfielder.

Frequently asked questions about Ceballos' return to Betis