Watford have refused to comment on whether talented youngster Panos Armenakas will be staying at the club or if he has signed with Udinese – despite the Hornets announcing he had joined on a scholarship last month.

Armenakas was listed by the Golden Boys in the Ipswich Town programme on April 19 as joining the scholarship programme next season.

However, the 16-year-old replied to a message on Twitter, congratulating him on the news, with “don’t believe everything you hear” last Thursday.

It is believed the player has agreed a professional contract with fellow Pozzo-owed club Udinese.

Armenakas, who has Greek and American heritage, was tipped as a huge prospect growing up in his native Australia and was said to have been offered trials at several teams, including Barcelona, AC Milan and Manchester United.

He joined Watford’s academy in late 2012, with technical director Gian Luca Nani claiming he had signed with the Golden Boys despite interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.