In a similar vein to the downfall of Xabi Alonso, current Real Madrid Head Coach Alvaro Arbeloa has hit a crossroads with a member of the squad, who has now reportedly refused contact with the manager amid a pending exit from the Bernabeu.
Madrid's season took a turn for the worse in April, with just one win in six games.
Despite the re-emergence of injured stars like Jude Bellingham, Arbeloa's side crashed out of the Champions League to Bayern Munich and lost any hopes of launching a La Liga coup with draws to Girona and Betis and a loss to Mallorca.
Sat 11 points adrift of Spanish rivals FC Barcelona, the side has been forced to turn its attention to the 26/27 season, but it appears that one outcast will be wearing a different kit.
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After being ostracised from the squad with just 170 minutes of action since the New Year, Dani Ceballos looks to have played his last game in a Real Madrid jersey, as he has called for 'no contact' with the manager.
Dani Ceballos tells teammates he's leaving and cutting ties with Arbeloa
After nine years at Los Blancos, Dani Ceballos has reportedly confirmed to his teammates that he has informed the manager that he will be leaving this summer in an 'unpleasant' last face-to-face meeting.
With 199 caps for Madrid, Ceballos' frustrations reportedly reached a boiling point after being unused as a substitute in the 1-1 draw to Real Betis.
According to Madrid-based newspaper Marca, the 29-year-old central midfielder told his teammates that he would be completely ghosting his coach as he prepared to leave.
The paper claims that Ceballos told the squad that he "asked the coach that we not have any contact."
It follows reports earlier in the season that Ceballos 'sought conflict' with Arbeloa in a bid to force an exit from the club, after growing unhappy at a lack of playing time.
The Spaniard, with 19 international caps to his name, could be on his way to Ajax for next season, with the Dutch club being favourites to capture his signature for the 26/27 campaign.
A camp in disarray
Life in Madrid is anything but rosy at the moment, with Alvaro Arbeloa's tenure at the helm looking to be on borrowed time amid interest in a shock return for Jose Mourinho.
Player disagreements involving Bellingham have been spotted breaking out after their recent performances, and Vinicius Jr. was even spotted clashing with the club President, Florentino Perez.
The colossal club has become renowned for friction between players and backroom staff, and there's a lot of work to be done in a busy Summer window that will also have the distraction of the World Cup to contend with.
A squad culling could be on the cards, with the likes of Ceballos, Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr., Camavinga, and Tchouameni attracting attention from clubs around Europe - although there are promising signs that a Premier League Player of the Season candidate could be on his way to bolster the numbers.
Topics: Real Madrid, Football, La Liga
Jack Marsh