REAL MADRID’S former Arsenal star Dani Ceballos has posted a picture of his gruesome ankle injury on social media.
The Spanish midfielder, 28, has been ruled out for two months after sustaining a grim sprain in Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Real Betis on Sunday.
A Real Madrid statement read: “Ceballos has been diagnosed with a Grade III sprain affecting the ligaments in the right ankle. He will be unavailable for six to eight weeks.”
Ceballos did not show any visible signs of pain after a tussle with Betis defender Youssouf Sabaly, before being replaced by Brahim Diaz in the 65th minute.
Several snaps showed his ankle looking bruised and swollen.
The former Gunners loanee posted an update with the grim picture on his Instagram story alongside the caption: “One less day to returnšš¼”.
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Moments after his substitution, new signing Kylian Mbappe scored his first LaLiga goals – a double in the space of nine minutes.
But the swollen ankle injury has put a dent in Ceballos’ hopes of taking advatage of Madrid’s midfield injuries and becoming a regular in Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
The former Prem loan star was given his first start of the campaign after barely featuring in Madrid’s first four games.
England ace Jude Bellingham has been forced to watch from the sidelines so far this season after picking up a plantar fasciitis injury in his right leg in summer training.
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Left-back FerlandĀ Mendy and midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni have both withdrawn from France’s Uefa Nations League camp.
Mendy was sent back to the Bernabeu with hamstring fatigue and Tchoumameni has a strained left foot.
Fellow midfielder Eduardo Camavinga is also out injured after missing Madrid’s 2-0 Uefa Super Cup victory over Atalanta.
Ceballos moved to Madrid fromĀ Real BetisĀ in 2017.
He subsequently spent two years on loan at Arsenal between 2019 and 2021, playing 77 times under Unai Emery andĀ Mikel Arteta.
He was picked as part of Spain’s Olympic squad for Tokyo 2021, but his tournament was cut short with a horrific ankle injury then too.
Upon his return to Madrid he managed to carve out a role for himself, and won two Champions Leagues, in 2022 and this year.
Ceballos’ Arsenal stint
Midfielder spent two seasons with the Gunners
2019-20 season:
37 appearances
Two goals
Two assists
Notable for:Ā Unai Emery being sacked on November 29, and replaced by Mikel Arteta the following month. Winning the FA Cup, and starting the final against Chelsea.
2020-21 season:
40 appearances
Zero goals
Three assists
Notable for:Ā Losing his earlier prominence, starting just 17 Premier League games. Slumping to eighth in Arteta’s first season in charge.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
