After a Genoa coach spies on his club’s local rivals and is caught “like Rambo hidden among the branches on the hill”, serious statements have to be issued.

Genoa youth team coach Luca De Pra is believed to have watched Sampdoria train, ahead of Sunday’s clash between the two clubs at shared ground Stadio Luigi Ferraris yesterday, while dressed in camouflage gear.

Apparently on this mission without the knowledge of his own club, De Pra was caught sitting under a tree, with a view over looking the Sampdoria training ground.

A Sampdoria statement read:

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 a scene of espionage.

Like Rambo hidden among the branches on the hill, Luca De Pra 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.

Genoa have denied a wider spying campaign, with their own, more sensible 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.