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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Ned Keating

Dani Ceballos profile: Controversial Spain star who joked about bombing Camp Nou

Arsenal completed their second signing of the summer by bringing in midfielder Dani Ceballos on a season-long loan deal from Real Madrid.

The Spain international will spend the course of the next campaign in north London and joins Brazilian teenager Gabriel Martinelli in joining the Gunners this summer.

Unai Emery's men are thought to have beaten off competition from fierce rivals Tottenham to sign Ceballos on loan, something which will be seen as a coup for the Emirates Stadium outfit.

Arsenal fans are already looking forward to what Ceballos can produce during his time with the club, but who is exactly is the Gunners' new midfielder?

Early upbringing

Ceballos was born in Seville in southern Spain in August 1996 and joined Sevilla's youth system as an eight-year-old.

Chronic bronchitis, though, nearly ended the midfielder's career before it even started with the Spanish side releasing the youngster in 2009 as a result of the issue.

After spending time in the youth set-up with minnows Utrera, Ceballos was then picked up by Real Betis in 2011 and went on to make his first-team debut at a 17-year-old three years later.

Ceballos and girlfriend model Maria Sanchez del Moral (danifuli10/Instagram)

Starring role for Spain under-21s

Ceballos' regular football for Betis saw him become a constant figure in the Spain squad in the build-up to the European Under-21 Championships in 2017.

Despite starting their opening game on the bench, the 22-year-old played a key role for his country as they made it all the way to the final, before losing to Gerrmany.

The midfielder, though, was named player of the tournament and such was his form, he joined Real Madrid after they activated the £13.5m release clause in his contract.

Ceballos was born in Seville in southern Spain in August 1996 (danifuli10/Instagram)

Controversial tweet

Ceballos gained notoriety in 2015 when he tweeted that a bomb should be dropped on the Camp Nou during a Barcelona game.

Barca were playing Athletic Bilbao, who hail from Spain's Basque region, in the Copa del Rey final in 2015 when the midfielder's indiscretion took place.

Arsenal fans are already looking forward to what Ceballos can produce (danifuli10/Instagram)

The 22-year-old said in a since deleted post: "They should drop a bomb on the stadium and kill all those Catalan and Basque dogs."

The former Betis man had also previously criticised Gerard Pique and Cesc Fabregas for celebrating Spain's Euro 2012 victory while draped in Catalan flags.

A colourful past indeed.

 
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