Report: Former Barcelona Coach Guardiola Had Investigators Spy On Players, Including Piqué

Spanish private detective agency Método 3 spied on Barcelona players under former club Manager Pep Guardiola, according to Antonio Fernández of EL CONFIDENCIAL. The soon to be Bayern Munich coach "was interested in knowing what his football stars were during in their free time." He wanted his players "to focus on football," so they could perform to the best of their abilities when on the pitch. Investigators would call the house phone of some of Barcelona star players to see "if they were indeed at home and not spending the night at the bars." A person who worked at the club during Guardiola's time said, "He was obsessed with the players keeping their private life in order." Amongst the players followed by detectives were Ronaldinho, Deco and Eto'o. But the player most-watched was defender Gerard Piqué, who was followed during various time periods including in both '08 and '10. The attention given to the player "increased after he started a romance" with singer Shakira (EL CONFIDENCIAL, 2/25).