SERIE A has been rocked by a new “spygate” drama after a coach was found hiding in a tree while taking notes of a rival training session.
Jose Mourinho’s former side Roma reportedly caught a member of staff from upcoming opponents Torino spying at their training ground over the weekend.
Il Messaggaro claims Michele Orecchio was found hiding in a tree while taking notes by a security guard.
Roma, now managed by Daniele De Rossi, welcome Torino to the Stadio Olimpico on Monday night.
And Orecchio was thought to be gathering intel for the upcoming tactical battle.
It’s not known how long he was hiding for, or how much information he gathered.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
But De Rossi is said to have immediately halted Roma’s session until the coast was clear
Amazingly, it’s not the first time Orecchio’s been caught spying on the capital club either.
Last season, he was nabbed while in possession of recording equipment outside Roma’s training ground.
Orecchio was reportedly busted by Mourinho’s assistant Nuno Santos.
Most read in Football
HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
But there was no punishment of any kind for the Torino man.
And his mission clearly backfired after Roma downed the Turin side 1-0.
De Rossi’s men currently lie sixth in the table after winning four of their last five games.
As for Torino, they are tenth and just one point behind reigning champions Napoli.
Serie A’s “spygate” mission comes five years after the infamous Championship debacle between Leeds and Derby.
Marcelo Bielsa sent a member of staff to watch Frank Lampard’s side before their league meeting.
The Leeds man was caught in the act, but Bielsa insisted he had done nothing “illegal.”
And the now-Uruguay manager proceeded to reveal detailed notes of all Leeds’ opponents to the media in a bid to prove his point.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
