Just a couple of weeks ago he was rumoured to be returning to play for Watford – but now Etienne Capoue has traded goal nets for basketball nets.

The 36-year-old played 181 times and scored 14 goals during a five-and-a-half-year stint at Vicarage Road, with many fans regarding the Frenchman as one of the most gifted players the club has ever had.

He joined Watford from Tottenham and then left to move to Villareal, where he won the Europa League in 2021.

The Spanish side released him during the summer, and with Watford looking to strengthen their midfield the rumour mill went into overdrive in the final few days of the transfer window.

Some fans even jokingly claimed to have seen Capoue in the town centre and at the training ground, but one thing he didn’t do was join Watford – or any other football club.

Instead Capoue has surprised most people and has switched ball sports.

The 36-year-old previously said it was his "dream as a child" to play NBA basketball, and while he's not quite achieved that, he has taken the game up.

The Spanish sports news website Relevo has reported that Capoue is currently training with Spanish fourth-division basketball team CB Jovens L’Eliana, who are based near Valencia.

 

He even took part in a recent friendly, which his new side won.

The former France international has been pictured on social media smiling broadly with his new team following that victory, although as he does not yet have a licence, he cannot compete in any official matches.