Dani Ceballos has reportedly told Real Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa not to contact him following an explosive row at the club’s training ground.
According to Marca, the former Arsenal midfielder had requested a meeting with Arbeloa last week having not featured since returning from injury at the start of April.
The report claims Ceballos and Arbeloa had an ‘unpleasant face-to-face meeting’ with tensions having already existed between the pair after a previous disagreement.
Following the meeting, Ceballos was said to have informed team-mates that he had requested Arbeloa does not contact him again.
Ceballos was then left out of Real Madrid’s matchday squad to face Real Betis last Friday, where Arbeloa’s side conceded a stoppage equaliser in a 1-1 draw.
The result saw Real Madrid drop further points to title rivals Barcelona, who moved closer to being crowned Spanish champions for a second straight year by beating Getafe the following day.
Ceballos is expected to continue to train with his Real Madrid team-mates until the end of the season, but will not feature in their matchday squad for their final five league matches of the campaign.
Real Madrid reportedly believe Ceballos had attempted to deliberately create the conflict with Arbeloa in order to justify his lack of playing time, before seeking a move at the end of the season.
Ceballos has one year remaining on his Real Madrid contract.
The midfielder had turned down a move to Marseille last summer amid interest from Real Betis.
Betis are viewed as a likely destination again this summer, with the 29-year-old having begun his professional career with the club before moving to Real Madrid in 2017.
The explosive dispute comes amid the growing expectation that Arbeloa will be replaced as Real Madrid manager at the end of the season.
Arbeloa has overseen 23 matches since being promoted from his role as manager of their B-team, following Xabi Alonso’s sacking in January.
Real Madrid have won 14 matches, drawn two and suffered seven defeats under Arbeloa, with the club having fallen off the pace in the league and were eliminated from the Champions League in the quarter-finals by Bayern Munich.
The Spanish giants are now set to finish without silverware for a second successive season.
