Portuguese starlet Domingos Quina completed the transfer window’s bizarre move after snubbing Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Quina, 18, opted to join Watford in a £1m move from West Ham even though the Spanish giants were both keen to sign the midfielder who had just won the European under-19 championships with Portugal.
Barcelona executive Pep Moratalla was in charge of trying to sign him while Juni Calafat tried to broker a move to Real Madrid.
But, incredibly, Quina’s brother Samuel - who is not his agent - ended up persuading the player to move to Watford in the face of the chance of a lifetime to move to Spain.
Quina, regarded as one of Portugal’s best prospects, has ultimately snubbed a move to two of the biggest clubs in the world in favour of Vicarage Road.
West Ham agreed to sell to Watford as Quina struggled to adapt to the physical nature of the Premier League and found his chances limited.
It is believed that Watford boss Javi Gracia was even surprised by Quina’s decision and he did not make the squad for their first game of the season.
Spanish paper AS wrote that “maybe one day he explains why” the player and his brother chose Watford over Real Madrid and Barcelona.