According to Marca, the incident began last Thursday when Ceballos arrived at the Valdebebas training ground, walked into Arbeloa's office, and initiated what those present described as an unpleasant face-to-face meeting.
On returning to the dressing room, he told his teammates he had asked the coach to cut him from all further squads — and that he was certain he would not be called up again.
Arbeloa and Ceballos had clashed before, but this confrontation ended any possibility of repair. The club was informed immediately and chose to back the coach, as is their custom in such situations. Real Madrid confirmed the omission against Betis was a technical decision, making no attempt to soften the reality publicly.
"I've asked the coach not to have any contact with me," Ceballos said, as reported by Marca.
There is a view within the club that Ceballos may have deliberately escalated the situation to force a departure and provide cover for his lack of playing time. The player's own position is that the situation had become unbearable — that the conflict with Arbeloa was personal as much as sporting, and that he could not sustain it until the end of the season.
His last appearance in a Real Madrid shirt came against Osasuna on 21 February, when an error contributed to a 2-1 defeat. He has not played since returning from injury in early April and will not again.
Ceballos, 29, is contracted until 2027 having renewed in 2023. A departure this summer is now inevitable. Real Betis remain his preferred destination, both emotionally and professionally, though the financial terms remain complicated given salary cap constraints at the Seville club.
Ajax have also been mentioned as a potential destination.Real Madrid see his exit as a route to clearing salary space and accelerating the development of younger players who have caught the eye this season.