This archive report was first published on 2 July 2020.
On July 1, 2020, Watford signed French midfielder Pape Gueye on pre-contract terms, but just 17 hours later, he was sold to Marseille.
According to reports, Gueye had been 'badly advised' to sign a five-year contract with Watford, which would have paid him £45,000 per month.
However, the 21-year-old changed his mind and agreed to join Marseille, posting a photo of himself in the French club's training top on Instagram.
Watford will claim seven-figure compensation from Marseille, with the Hornets arguing that it would cost around £2.7m to buy out Gueye's contract alone.
The deal is one of the most bizarre transfers in recent football history, with Watford beating top European clubs, including Arsenal, to sign Gueye from Le Havre.
Watford has a history of selling players for a big mark-up, with Richarlison being sold to Everton for £45m just 11 months after joining the club.
