Pedro Botelho Arrested For Drunk Driving, Returns to Arsenal From Rayo Vallecano

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Jan 17, 2012

Pedro Botelho Arrested For Drunk Driving, Returns to Arsenal From Rayo VallecanoPedro Botelho's loan spell at Spanish club Rayo Vallecano came to an unceremonious end Tuesday. The Daily Mail reports Botelho was arrested in Madrid early Monday morning after he crashed into a police car and sped away. The police caught him minutes later and administered a breathalyzer test, which he failed.

The 22-year-old midfielder was scheduled to spend the entire 2011-12 season with the La Liga club, but on Tuesday Rayo manager José Ramón Sandoval announced that Botelho would be leaving the club. He returns to Arsenal, but his future in North London is in jeopardy.

"Gunners officials will make a decision on his future after Spanish police have conducted their investigation," the report says. "But Botelho could face the sack if Arsenal class the offense as gross misconduct, which would be in breach of his contract."

He made 11 appearances and scored one goal for Rayo this season.

Botelho originally joined Arsenal in 2008, but work permit issues prompted the club to send him out on loan. He has spent season-long loan spells in Spain with Salamanca, Celta Vigo, Cartagena and Rayo.

Botelho is the second on-loan Arsenal player to be caught behaving badly in Spain this season. Wellington Silva's tweets about a lack of playing time, landed him in hot water with Spanish club Levante. His loan deal was cut short and he now tweets from second division club CD Alcoyano.

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Photo via Flickr/mgmoratalla

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