Real Madrid player in bovine Batman bother

Asier Illarramendi apologises after taking part in bull run dressed as Batman at a festival.

Real Madrid's midfielder Asier Illarramendi, left. AFP / February 11, 2014

MADRID // Real Madrid midfielder Asier Illarramendi has apologised after a video was published on the internet that appeared to show him running in front of a horned cow dressed as Batman at a festival in his native Basque Country.

The grainy footage shows several people, including a masked figure in a cape local media said was Illarramendi, darting in front of the beast, although at no time did he seem to be in danger from its horns.

“We have an internal rule designed to prevent players going skiing and other dangerous things but I have never known it applied to bull fighting,” a bemused-looking Carlo Ancelotti told a regular post-training news conference yesterday. “He has apologised and that’s that,” said the Italian coach.

Local media said Illarramendi would be fined over the episode but did not say how much.

A Spain under-21 international, Illarramendi, who turned 24 yesterday, moved to Real Madrid from Real Sociedad in the close season as a long-term replacement for Xavi Alonso.

Meanwhile, Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa looks set to miss his side’s crucial Primera Liga clash with Barcelona on March 23 because of a cracked right kneecap.

The club confirmed the injury yesterday morning without specifying how long they expect the Spanish international to be on the sidelines.

Several Spanish media outlets reported that Arbeloa would miss the next three weeks.

Should that be the case, the former Liverpool man will be ruled out of La Liga matches against Levante, Malaga and Sevilla, on top of Barcelona’s visit to the Santiago Bernabeu, and the second leg of Real’s last 16 Champions League tie against Schalke.

“It is bad news for us,” Ancelotti said. “Arbeloa is a very important player due to his personality and experience.”

* Reuters