GOAL and Bernardo Requena analyze the changes that helped the man from Utrera raise his level, become a key figure in Madrid, and earn a recall to the national team.
There’s no doubt that Dani Ceballos is enjoying a remarkable period. He has transformed his status at Real Madrid and has returned to the Spanish national team under Luis de la Fuente’s guidance.
Few players have managed to reestablish themselves in the white squad after periods of little or no playing time and loan spells. This turnaround is the product of meticulous work behind the scenes, and GOAL has uncovered one of the core elements driving Ceballos’ resurgence.
For three years, he has trained under the personal guidance of Bernardo Requena, a high-caliber sports advisor who has succeeded in optimizing the player’s physical attributes. Thanks to this preparation, it is possible to detail the changes that have culminated in Ceballos’ peak performance. The most striking aspect is straightforward: Dani’s transformation has been radical. But what lies beneath the surface?
“I don’t think there’s a secret. Dani is in peak shape because of how he carries himself. If you review his evolution across these seasons, it comes down to his mindset as an athlete, marked by a relentless drive to improve and a constant pursuit of excellence across every performance facet: training efficiency, rest optimization, game understanding, nutrition, and even emotional management. He strives to be a better version of himself, and that mindset explains how he endured his injury and why he now stands at a point of clarity. It’s the way he approaches things, not a hidden trick.”
Dani exhibits extraordinary resilience. The team has amplified this mental strength after the injury, teaching him to focus on controllable factors and to ignore what cannot be raced. The emphasis has shifted to daily work and habit formation. When setbacks such as limited playing time appear, the player concentrates on what he can control: training with purpose, daily improvement, solid routines, and genuine enjoyment of the process. This ongoing commitment to improvement shapes the evolution in his personal training.
“Since I started working with Dani three seasons ago, the core remains the same while some elements adapt to the situation. The training, dietary habits, and overall achievements stay consistent, but we adjust them to fit the moment and the needs at hand. When you view it across three years, Dani arrived at the peak and the injury, though challenging, became a turning point. This season, he begins with a sense of normality, and biomechanics are free of discomfort, unchanged by the injury. That normality is the key to reaching this stage of the season. Nothing fundamental has changed in his personal training; new habits have been woven into daily life, alongside a flexible approach that accommodates the moment.”
Asked about these habits, the experts describe a daily routine that is now routine for Dani. If one watched Dani for a full day, several attention-grabbing patterns would emerge, yet they have become ordinary to him. He understands that a 24-hour window matters for his role, so hydration, performance focus at the training facility, mobility work, and nutrition are all meticulously scheduled. Even his leisure time follows a precise plan. The dreams, rest, and recovery routines are all structured to support professional performance. And the intensity during pre-season training was especially relevant.
“Yes, there was a deliberate push during the holiday break. Coming off a season marked by injury recovery, we aimed to maximize this period between campaigns to prepare for a demanding pre-season. The club already had a calendar with its own pre-season demands, so we increased training volume and intensity to ensure a smoother transition into competition. That strategic emphasis on extra work changed the dynamic.”
What did the extra work entail? It involved uphill conditioning, including an altitude phase followed by a sea-level phase. The plan split the training into two distinct blocks to optimize adaptation before the season began. And how is nutrition managed?
“Nutrition is tailored to analytical data and personal preferences. Everyone has tastes, so the plan respects those preferences while aligning with the season’s rhythm and weekly schedule. Whether it’s a game day or a heavy training week, the nutrition and supplementation are adjusted accordingly. This level of customization is essential.”
Finally, how does the player handle individualized work outside of group sessions?
“At this level, with a player like Dani, the work doesn’t stop at the facility. Recovery, injury prevention, and targeted performance optimization extend into the afternoon. The schedule includes different objectives, and dedicated sessions are arranged to address them.”