If there is one thing you can never doubt about Italian football it’s the entertainment value. With this latest episode it has added one of the finest chapters to its long, long collection of wonderfully bizarre incidents.
Sampdoria have announced that, on the eve of their derby game against city rivals Genoa, they have captured a Genoa spy, hiding in the undergrowth, wearing military style camouflage clothing, while watching their supposedly secret training session on Friday.
They’ve released Luca De Pra – a Genoa youth coach – back to their rivals, who have claimed their man was acting alone, and have suspended him for his botched reconnaissance mission.
Genoa have distanced themselves from De Pra, saying in a statement: "No director or member of the coaching staff sent Luca De Pra, goalkeeper coach for the youth team, to watch the training session at Bogliasco. It was a personal initiative.
"This has never been done before and is not part of the club's modus operandi. The club makes it known that De Pra has been suspended with immediate effect pending further explanations."
De Pra was reportedly caught after movement was spotted in the woods next to the training pitch. Officials from Sampdoria gave chase and once they caught De Pra hiding behind a tree, in his full military gear, instantly recognised him as the well known coach.
Sampdoria released a picture of the captured De Pra (above), along with the following statement:
"That the derby is a question of nerve, tactics and strategy we already knew, but frankly we could never expect that it could turn into an scene of espionage.
"Like Rambo hidden among the branches on the hill, Luca De Pra, Genoa goalkeeping coach and man of noble footballing ancestry, failed to overcome Sampdoria's intelligence and counter intelligence operations.
"However, no prisoners were taken, and no blood was shed. Once tracked down and caught red-handed, the opposing side's soldier was let free to return to base.
"You should always forgive your enemies, as nothing annoys them more."
