Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has revealed that Dani Ceballos’ contract with the club was terminated after a brief conversation in which he told the midfielder he was not part of his plans.

Mourinho said he spoke to Ceballos by phone shortly after taking charge and made it clear that the Spanish midfielder was unlikely to feature under him.

“I spoke to him for three minutes on the phone when I first got here,” Mourinho said. “I told him he is not in my plans.”

Rather than remain at the club without a guaranteed role, Ceballos reportedly asked to have his contract terminated so he could determine his next move.

Mourinho said the midfielder’s response was different from that of players who prefer to remain at a club despite being outside the manager’s plans.

“A lot of times players hold onto their contracts and say, ‘No, I want to stay,’” Mourinho said.

“But Ceballos told me, ‘If I’m outside your plans, then I’d prefer to be free to decide my future,’ so he agreed to terminate his contract.”

Ceballos subsequently returned to Real Betis as a free agent.