Dani Ceballos has insisted he will 'fight' for his place at Real Madrid under new manager Carlo Ancelotti.
The central midfielder spent the last two seasons on loan at Arsenal, playing 77 times in all competitions across those campaigns but admitted he wanted to return to Spain after his spell in North London.
Ceballos, 24, told AS that he was clear on his objective to return to his parent club, who signed him on a six-year deal from Real Betis back in July 2017.
He said: 'I really want to win at Real Madrid, I'll fight to stay here. The experience with Arsenal in the Premier League made me stronger, now it's time to win at Real Madrid.
'It's clear, I would like to play at Real Madrid. But I have to know what the coach wants and there have to be objectives. But my intention is to play the coming year at Real Madrid.'
'With the arrival of Ancelotti, the span of a midfielder is wide, because he plays 4-3-3 and, at times with one of the wingers coming inside.
'It is going to depend on my return, of the state of form I am in and the chat that we have pending. From there... what I am very clear about is I want to play and I have to earn it on the pitch to make it difficult for the coach.'
Ceballos did well in his first season at the Gunners, but struggled the following year as Mikel Arteta's side finished in eighth, just two points above promoted Leeds, and missing out on European qualification.
The 11-cap Spain international will look to break into Los Blancos' established midfield trio of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro alongside Federico Valverde, Isco and fellow returning Arsenal loanee Martin Odegaard.